Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
14:53
Techniques for the Evolution of Robust Pentose-fermenting Yeast for Bioconversion of Lignocellulose to Ethanol
Published on: October 24, 2016
Adaptive microbial population shifts in response to a continuous ethanol blend release increases biodegradation
Jie Ma1, Carlos W Nossa, Zongming Xiu
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, TX 77005, USA.
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|May 1, 2013
Summary
Fuel releases impact microbial communities. This study shows ethanol blend releases stimulate microbial growth and enhance natural attenuation potential by increasing species diversity and fermentative degradation genes.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Bioremediation
- Geochemistry
Background:
- Understanding microbial community responses to fuel releases is crucial for predicting environmental fate.
- Ethanol blends are common fuel components, but their impact on subsurface microbial ecosystems is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of a pilot-scale ethanol blend release on microbial community structure and function.
- To investigate the potential for natural attenuation of ethanol and associated aromatic hydrocarbons.
Main Methods:
- Pilot-scale continuous release of ethanol, benzene, and toluene for 10 months.
- Pyrosequencing-based 16S rRNA gene analysis to characterize microbial community shifts.
- Quantitative PCR to quantify Bacteria, Archaea, and functional genes (mcrA, fhs, PHE).
Main Results:
- The release significantly stimulated microbial growth, increasing species richness and diversity.
- Relative abundance of methanogenesis (mcrA) and acetogenesis (fhs) genes increased 18- and 6-fold, respectively.
- Evidence suggests an adaptive microbial response favoring fermentative degradation and hydrocarbon metabolism.
Conclusions:
- Ethanol blend releases promote microbial activity and adaptive strategies for pollutant degradation.
- Increased microbial diversity and specific functional gene abundance indicate enhanced natural attenuation potential.
- Findings contribute to understanding the fate of fuel contaminants in subsurface environments.
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