Shift in Bacterial Community Structure in the Biodegradation of Benzene and Toluene under Sulfate-Reducing Condition

Groundwater contaminated by benzene and toluene is a common issue, posing a threat to the ecosystems and human health. The removal of benzene and toluene under sulfate-reducing condition is well known, but how the bacterial community shifts during this process remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the shift in bacterial community structure during the biodegradation of benzene and toluene under sulfate-reducing condition. In this study, groundwater contaminated with benzene and toluene were collected from the field and used to construct three artificial samples: Control (benzene 50 mg/L, toluene 1.24 mg/L, sulfate 470 mg/L, and HgCl₂ 250 mg/L), S1 (benzene 50 mg/L, toluene 1.24 mg/L, sulfate 470 mg/L), and S2 (benzene 100 mg/L, toluene 2.5 mg/L, sulfate 940 mg/L). The contaminants (benzene and toluene), geochemical parameters (sulfate, ORP, and pH), and bacterial community structure in the artificial samples were monitored over time. By the end of this study (day 90), approximately 99% of benzene and 96% of toluene could be eliminated in both S1 and S2 artificial samples, while in the Control artificial sample the contaminant levels remained unchanged due to microbial inactivation. The richness of bacterial communities initially decreased but subsequently increased over time in both S1 and S2 artificial samples. Under sulfate-reducing condition, key players in benzene and toluene degradation were identified as Pseudomonas, Janthinobacterium, Novosphingobium, Staphylococcus, and Bradyrhizobium. The results could provide scientific basis for remediation and risk management strategies at the benzene and toluene contaminated sites.