Trimethylbenzoic acids as metabolite signatures in the biogeochemical evolution of an aquifer contaminated with jet fuel hydrocarbons

J. A. Namocatcat; J. Fang; M. J. Barcelona; A. T.O. Quibuyen; T. A. Abrajano

doi:10.1016/S0169-7722(03)00067-6

Trimethylbenzoic acids as metabolite signatures in the biogeochemical evolution of an aquifer contaminated with jet fuel hydrocarbons

J. A. Namocatcat, J. Fang^*, M. J. Barcelona, A. T.O. Quibuyen, T. A. Abrajano

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Evolution of trimethylbenzoic acids in the KC-135 aquifer at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (WAFB), Oscoda, MI was examined to determine the functionality of trimethylbenzoic acids as key metabolite signatures in the biogeochemical evolution of an aquifer contaminated with JP-4 fuel hydrocarbons. Changes in the composition of trimethylbenzoic acids and the distribution and concentration profiles exhibited by 2,4,6- and 2,3,5-trimethylbenzoic acids temporally and between multilevel wells reflect processes indicative of an actively evolving contaminant plume. The concentration levels of trimethylbenzoic acids were 3-10 orders higher than their tetramethylbenzene precursors, a condition attributed to slow metabolite turnover under sulfidogenic conditions. The observed degradation of tetramethylbenzenes into trimethylbenzoic acids obviates the use of these alkylbenzenes as non-labile tracers for other degradable aromatic hydrocarbons, but provides rare field evidence on the range of high molecular weight alkylbenzenes and isomeric assemblages amenable to anaerobic degradation in situ. The coupling of actual tetramethylbenzene loss with trimethylbenzoic acid production and the general decline in the concentrations of these compounds demonstrate the role of microbially mediated processes in the natural attenuation of hydrocarbons and may be a key indicator in the overall rate of hydrocarbon degradation and the biogeochemical evolution of the KC-135 aquifer.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	177-194
Number of pages	18
Journal	Journal of Contaminant Hydrology
Volume	67
Issue number	1-4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-7722(03)00067-6
State	Published - Dec 2003
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was funded by a cooperative agreement from the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Defense-Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (DoD-SERDP) with the University of Michigan National Center for Integrated Bioremediation Research and Development (UM-NCIBRD). The authors thank Charles L. Major, Tony Brown, Dave Jaglowski, and Michael Gerdenich for assistance in field sampling and Briana Sye, Sandy Homola, Tim Baker, Nitin Barad, and Hongming Chen for laboratory assistance. This paper benefited greatly from the reviews of Dr. Peter Adriaens (University of Michigan) and Dr. Paul Bradley (United States Geological Survey) and editorial handling of Dr. David Lerner (University of Sheffield). Scholarship support from Engineering and Science Education Project-Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ESEP), Philippines through Dr. Estrella Alabastro and Dr. Ida Dalmacio of the Philippine Council for Advance Science and Technology Research and Development (PCASTRD) are gratefully acknowledged.

Keywords

Biodegradation
Biogeochemistry
Groundwater
Intrinsic bioremediation
Jet fuel hydrocarbons

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Environmental Chemistry
Water Science and Technology

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Cite this

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title = "Trimethylbenzoic acids as metabolite signatures in the biogeochemical evolution of an aquifer contaminated with jet fuel hydrocarbons",

abstract = "Evolution of trimethylbenzoic acids in the KC-135 aquifer at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (WAFB), Oscoda, MI was examined to determine the functionality of trimethylbenzoic acids as key metabolite signatures in the biogeochemical evolution of an aquifer contaminated with JP-4 fuel hydrocarbons. Changes in the composition of trimethylbenzoic acids and the distribution and concentration profiles exhibited by 2,4,6- and 2,3,5-trimethylbenzoic acids temporally and between multilevel wells reflect processes indicative of an actively evolving contaminant plume. The concentration levels of trimethylbenzoic acids were 3-10 orders higher than their tetramethylbenzene precursors, a condition attributed to slow metabolite turnover under sulfidogenic conditions. The observed degradation of tetramethylbenzenes into trimethylbenzoic acids obviates the use of these alkylbenzenes as non-labile tracers for other degradable aromatic hydrocarbons, but provides rare field evidence on the range of high molecular weight alkylbenzenes and isomeric assemblages amenable to anaerobic degradation in situ. The coupling of actual tetramethylbenzene loss with trimethylbenzoic acid production and the general decline in the concentrations of these compounds demonstrate the role of microbially mediated processes in the natural attenuation of hydrocarbons and may be a key indicator in the overall rate of hydrocarbon degradation and the biogeochemical evolution of the KC-135 aquifer.",

keywords = "Biodegradation, Biogeochemistry, Groundwater, Intrinsic bioremediation, Jet fuel hydrocarbons",

author = "Namocatcat, {J. A.} and J. Fang and Barcelona, {M. J.} and Quibuyen, {A. T.O.} and Abrajano, {T. A.}",

note = "Funding Information: This study was funded by a cooperative agreement from the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Defense-Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (DoD-SERDP) with the University of Michigan National Center for Integrated Bioremediation Research and Development (UM-NCIBRD). The authors thank Charles L. Major, Tony Brown, Dave Jaglowski, and Michael Gerdenich for assistance in field sampling and Briana Sye, Sandy Homola, Tim Baker, Nitin Barad, and Hongming Chen for laboratory assistance. This paper benefited greatly from the reviews of Dr. Peter Adriaens (University of Michigan) and Dr. Paul Bradley (United States Geological Survey) and editorial handling of Dr. David Lerner (University of Sheffield). Scholarship support from Engineering and Science Education Project-Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ESEP), Philippines through Dr. Estrella Alabastro and Dr. Ida Dalmacio of the Philippine Council for Advance Science and Technology Research and Development (PCASTRD) are gratefully acknowledged. ",

year = "2003",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1016/S0169-7722(03)00067-6",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "67",

pages = "177--194",

journal = "Journal of Contaminant Hydrology",

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T1 - Trimethylbenzoic acids as metabolite signatures in the biogeochemical evolution of an aquifer contaminated with jet fuel hydrocarbons

AU - Namocatcat, J. A.

AU - Fang, J.

AU - Barcelona, M. J.

AU - Quibuyen, A. T.O.

AU - Abrajano, T. A.

N1 - Funding Information: This study was funded by a cooperative agreement from the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Defense-Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (DoD-SERDP) with the University of Michigan National Center for Integrated Bioremediation Research and Development (UM-NCIBRD). The authors thank Charles L. Major, Tony Brown, Dave Jaglowski, and Michael Gerdenich for assistance in field sampling and Briana Sye, Sandy Homola, Tim Baker, Nitin Barad, and Hongming Chen for laboratory assistance. This paper benefited greatly from the reviews of Dr. Peter Adriaens (University of Michigan) and Dr. Paul Bradley (United States Geological Survey) and editorial handling of Dr. David Lerner (University of Sheffield). Scholarship support from Engineering and Science Education Project-Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ESEP), Philippines through Dr. Estrella Alabastro and Dr. Ida Dalmacio of the Philippine Council for Advance Science and Technology Research and Development (PCASTRD) are gratefully acknowledged.

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N2 - Evolution of trimethylbenzoic acids in the KC-135 aquifer at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (WAFB), Oscoda, MI was examined to determine the functionality of trimethylbenzoic acids as key metabolite signatures in the biogeochemical evolution of an aquifer contaminated with JP-4 fuel hydrocarbons. Changes in the composition of trimethylbenzoic acids and the distribution and concentration profiles exhibited by 2,4,6- and 2,3,5-trimethylbenzoic acids temporally and between multilevel wells reflect processes indicative of an actively evolving contaminant plume. The concentration levels of trimethylbenzoic acids were 3-10 orders higher than their tetramethylbenzene precursors, a condition attributed to slow metabolite turnover under sulfidogenic conditions. The observed degradation of tetramethylbenzenes into trimethylbenzoic acids obviates the use of these alkylbenzenes as non-labile tracers for other degradable aromatic hydrocarbons, but provides rare field evidence on the range of high molecular weight alkylbenzenes and isomeric assemblages amenable to anaerobic degradation in situ. The coupling of actual tetramethylbenzene loss with trimethylbenzoic acid production and the general decline in the concentrations of these compounds demonstrate the role of microbially mediated processes in the natural attenuation of hydrocarbons and may be a key indicator in the overall rate of hydrocarbon degradation and the biogeochemical evolution of the KC-135 aquifer.

AB - Evolution of trimethylbenzoic acids in the KC-135 aquifer at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base (WAFB), Oscoda, MI was examined to determine the functionality of trimethylbenzoic acids as key metabolite signatures in the biogeochemical evolution of an aquifer contaminated with JP-4 fuel hydrocarbons. Changes in the composition of trimethylbenzoic acids and the distribution and concentration profiles exhibited by 2,4,6- and 2,3,5-trimethylbenzoic acids temporally and between multilevel wells reflect processes indicative of an actively evolving contaminant plume. The concentration levels of trimethylbenzoic acids were 3-10 orders higher than their tetramethylbenzene precursors, a condition attributed to slow metabolite turnover under sulfidogenic conditions. The observed degradation of tetramethylbenzenes into trimethylbenzoic acids obviates the use of these alkylbenzenes as non-labile tracers for other degradable aromatic hydrocarbons, but provides rare field evidence on the range of high molecular weight alkylbenzenes and isomeric assemblages amenable to anaerobic degradation in situ. The coupling of actual tetramethylbenzene loss with trimethylbenzoic acid production and the general decline in the concentrations of these compounds demonstrate the role of microbially mediated processes in the natural attenuation of hydrocarbons and may be a key indicator in the overall rate of hydrocarbon degradation and the biogeochemical evolution of the KC-135 aquifer.

KW - Biodegradation

KW - Biogeochemistry

KW - Groundwater

KW - Intrinsic bioremediation

KW - Jet fuel hydrocarbons

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ER -

Trimethylbenzoic acids as metabolite signatures in the biogeochemical evolution of an aquifer contaminated with jet fuel hydrocarbons

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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