Geosmin Concentrations Research Articles

The effect of water source and chlorine and chloramine odorants in drinking water on earthy and musty odour intensity

Water utilities and laboratory studies have indicated that chlorine or chloramines can mask earthy or musty odours. However, there have been conflicting results. Sensory testing was completed on finished waters from five water utilities and a control to determine whether earthy and musty odours, caused by geosmin and 2-methyl isoborneol (MIB), at concentrations found in drinking water, are dependent on the background water matrix or chlorine (< 1 mg l -1 as CI) or chloramines (2-4mg l -1 as CI) concentrations found in finished drinking waters. Finished and dechlorinated water samples were spiked with geosmin and MIB and analysed by Flavor Profile Analysis to determine odour intensity and solid phase microextraction/GC-MS to determine actual geosmin and MIB concentrations. The participating utilities for this project represent a wide range of background matrices in terms of both total organic carbon and total dissolved solids. Background water quality did not significantly affect the intensity of earthy and musty odours. Dechlorination and dechloramination increased the intensity of the earthy odour of geosmin (20.1-61.9 ng l -1 ). However, dechlorination and dechloramination did not significantly affect the musty odour of MIB (18.6 ng l -1 ). This may be due to the statistical power of the method used at the low MIB concentration.

Occurrence of odour-causing compounds in different source waters of China

In this study, occurrence of the main odorous compounds in different types of source water in China, including rivers, lakes and reservoirs, were investigated by integrating the methods of flavour profile analysis (FPA) and sensory-GC/MS analysis. Simultaneous distillation extraction (SDE) was chosen as the preconcentration technique while the odour-causing compounds were identified with sensory-GC/MS. It was found that MIB, which is mainly produced by some cyanobacteria and actinomycetes, was one of the most widely distributed odour-causing compounds, regardless of source type. A peak MIB concentration of approximately 170 ng l(-1) was recorded in MY Reservoir in October 2005. Among the nine investigated sites, YH Reservoir in Hebei Province was the only site showing geosmin production. A peak geosmin concentration exceeding 7,000 ng l(-1) was detected in July 2007. In June 2007, a serious taste/odour (T/O) event occurred in Wuxi City, and the offensive flavour was a strong septic or marshy odour caused by dimethyl trisulfide (431 ng l(-1) in finished water). Septic/swampy and earthy/musty odours occurred in source waters of Shanghai and Guangzhou. It was found that dimethyl trisulfide was mainly responsible for the septic/swampy odour and MIB for the earthy/musty one. Dimethyl trisulfide might be an important T/O-causing compound in China.

Comparison of batch sorption tests, pilot studies, and modeling for estimating GAC bed life

Saint Paul Regional Water Services (SPRWS) in Saint Paul, MN experiences annual taste and odor episodes during the warm summer months. These episodes are attributed primarily to geosmin that is produced by cyanobacteria growing in the chain of lakes used to convey and store the source water pumped from the Mississippi River. Batch experiments, pilot-scale experiments, and model simulations were performed to determine the geosmin removal performance and bed life of a granular activated carbon (GAC) filter–sorber. Using batch adsorption isotherm parameters, the estimated bed life for the GAC filter–sorber ranged from 920 to 1241 days when challenged with a constant concentration of 100 ng/L of geosmin. The estimated bed life obtained using the AdDesignS model and the actual pilot-plant loading history was 594 days. Based on the pilot-scale GAC column data, the actual bed life (>714 days) was much longer than the simulated values because bed life was extended by biological degradation of geosmin. The continuous feeding of high concentrations of geosmin (100–400 ng/L) in the pilot-scale experiments enriched for a robust geosmin-degrading culture that was sustained when the geosmin feed was turned off for 40 days. It is unclear, however, whether a geosmin-degrading culture can be established in a full-scale filter that experiences taste and odor episodes for only 1 or 2 months per year. The results of this research indicate that care must be exercised in the design and interpretation of pilot-scale experiments and model simulations for predicting taste and odor removal in full-scale GAC filter–sorbers. Adsorption and the potential for biological degradation must be considered to estimate GAC bed life for the conditions of intermittent geosmin loading typically experienced by full-scale systems.

(−)Geosmin sorption by enological yeasts in model wine and FTIR spectroscopy characterization of the sorbent

For the first time, we report that enological yeasts or yeast cell walls can sorb (−)geosmin, an undesirable molecule that causes critical organoleptic defects in wine at low concentrations (around 50 ng l −1). The wine is described as “earthy” or “mouldy”. The influence of various post-harvesting processes on yeast (−)geosmin sorption capacity was studied. The dried yeast biomass obtained by the different processes was analysed by FTIR spectroscopy in ATR mode: structural differences were detected between the samples depending on the strain and the treatment used. Surface proteins and mainly phospholipids from the plasma membrane appeared to induce significantly different signals which may explain the different sorption capacities. The possible involvement of phospholipids in (−)geosmin sorption by yeasts highlights the complexity of this phenomenon. The post-harvesting processes were: spray-drying, mechanical cell disruption, autolysis and two methods of rehydration of dried yeast samples. The results show that, using the optimal combination of processes, the initial (−)geosmin concentration in model wine can be decreased by more than 50%.

Biodegradation of geosmin by a novel Gram-negative bacterium; isolation, phylogenetic characterisation and degradation rate determination

Biologically active sand filters within water treatment plants (WTPs) are now recognised as an effective barrier for the removal of geosmin. However, little is known regarding the actual microbiological processes occurring or the bacteria capable of degrading geosmin. This study reports the enrichment and isolation of a Gram-negative bacterium, Geo48, from the biofilm of a WTP sand filter where the isolate was shown to effectively degrade geosmin individually. Experiments revealed that Geo48 degraded geosmin in a planktonic state by a pseudo-first-order mechanism. Initial geosmin concentrations ranging from 100 to 1000 ng/l were shown to directly influence geosmin degradation in reservoir water by Geo48, with rate constants increasing from 0.010 h −1 ( R 2 = 0.93) to 0.029 h −1 ( R 2 = 0.97) respectively. Water temperature also influenced degradation of geosmin by Geo48 where temperatures of 11, 22 and 30 °C resulted in rate constants of 0.017 h −1 ( R 2 = 0.98), 0.023 h −1 ( R 2 = 0.91) and 0.019 h −1 ( R 2 = 0.85) respectively. Phylogenetic analysis using the 16S rRNA gene of Geo48 revealed it was a member of the Alphaproteobacteria and clustered with 99% bootstrap support with an isolate designated Geo24, a Sphingopyxis sp. previously described as degrading geosmin but only as a member of a bacterial consortium. Of the previously described bacteria, Geo48 was most similar to Sphingopyxis alaskensis (97.2% sequence similarity to a 1454 bp fragment of the 16S rRNA gene). To date, this is the only study to report the isolation and characterisation of a Gram-negative bacterium from a biologically active sand filter capable of the sole degradation of geosmin.

Development of predictive models for geosmin-related taste and odor in Kansas, USA, drinking water reservoirs

The presence of taste and odor compounds can greatly reduce the quality of drinking water supplies. Because the monetary costs associated with the removal of these compounds can be high, it is impractical for most facilities to continuously treat their raw water. Instead, new tools are needed to help predict when taste and odor events may be most likely to occur. Water quality data were collected between June and October in 2006–2007 from five Kansas (USA) reservoirs in order to develop predictive models for geosmin, a major taste and odor compound; two of these reservoirs were also sampled during specific taste and odor events in December 2006 and January 2007. Lake trophic state alone was not a good predictor of geosmin concentrations as the highest average geosmin concentration was observed in the reservoir with the lowest nutrient and chlorophyll a concentrations. In addition, taste and odor events were not confined to summer months; elevated geosmin concentrations were observed in several reservoirs during the winter. Growth limitation by inorganic phosphorus appeared to be the primary determinant of geosmin production by algal cells in these reservoirs.

Occurrence of dissolved and particle-bound taste and odor compounds in Swiss lake waters

The occurrence of algal taste and odor (T&O) compounds was investigated in three Swiss lakes which exhibit different nutrient levels from eutrophic to oligotrophic (Lake Greifensee, Lake Zurich and Lake Lucerne). Apart from dissolved T&O compounds, the study also encompassed particle-bound compounds, i.e., compounds that can be released from damaged algal cells during drinking water treatment. A combined instrumental (SPME–GC–MS) and sensory method was applied that allowed to detect and quantify T&O compounds in natural waters in the sub ppt to low ppt-range. In addition to the prominent T&O compounds geosmin and 2-methyl-isoborneol (MIB), four other T&O compounds could be detected in the lake waters, though all at relatively low concentrations (maximum concentrations of geosmin 19 ng L −1, MIB 3 ng L −1, β-ionone 27 ng L −1, β-cyclocitral 7 ng L −1, 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine 2 ng L −1, 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine 16 ng L −1). The concentration peaks typically occurred in the epilimnion during summer concurrent with a high phytoplankton biomass. Consistently, the concentration levels for most of the compounds varied substantially between the three lakes and generally decreased in the order eutrophic Lake Greifensee > mesotrophic Lake Zurich > oligotrophic Lake Lucerne. Furthermore, our data revealed that the occurrence of β-ionone was largely influenced by Planktothrix rubescens. This is the first time that a correlation between β-ionone and this cyanobacterium has been reported for natural waters.

Relationship between concentrations of odorous compounds and biomass of phytoplankton and actinomycetes in freshwater ponds of Beijing, China

The odorous compounds including geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) were detected in intensively cultivated freshwater ponds in Beijing, China, by coupling head space solid-phase microextraction with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Moreover, the biomass of phytoplankton and actinomycetes in the fishponds were determined simultaneously, and the relationship between the concentrations of these odorous compounds and the biomass of phytoplankton and actinomycetes was assessed. The results showed that among the odorous compounds detected, geosmin was the main one, and concentrations of 1.22–35.58 ng l−1 were found in all fishponds. Besides, MIB with 1.39–6.00 ng l−1 was found in parts of fishponds. Six phyla and 22 genera of algae were observed in the fishponds with a biomass of 17.33–178.34 mg l−1, among which dominant phyla were Bacillariophyta and Euglenophyta. Four genera of actinomycetes with a gross biomass of 0–76 × 104 ind l−1 were found in the fishponds, of which Streptomyces spp. was the dominant genera. This indicated that geosmin concentration in fishponds was related with the total biomass of the dominant algae. The results showed that Melosira spp. and Cyclotella spp. were the main microalgae to cause off-flavor in Beijing’s intensively cultivated freshwater ponds in summer and autumn, while Euglenophyta and other algaes played a small role in causing off-flavor.

Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity of Geosmin and 2-Methylisoborneol Using Cultured Human, Monkey, and Dog Cells

The cytotoxicity of musty odor-emitting substances, geosmin (GM) and 2-methylisoborneol, at a concentration of 10 ng/L - 300 mg/L was investigated using cultured mammalian cells. These two compounds exhibited no cytotoxicity in either the colony-formation of human KB cells or WST-1 assays of human-, monkey-, and dog-derived cells. These results suggest that the maximum concentration (700 ng/L) of GM found in the water of Lake Shinji is not toxic.

Effects of temperature and light on the growth and geosmin production of Lyngbya kuetzingii (Cyanophyta)

The effects of temperature and light on the growth and geosmin production of Lyngbya kuetzingii were determined. Of the three temperatures tested, 10, 25 and 35°C, the maximal geosmin concentration and geosmin productivity were yielded at 10°C, while the highest chl a production was observed at 25°C. In the studies on light intensity, the maximal geosmin concentration and geosmin productivity were observed at 10 μmol m−2 s−1, while the highest chl a production was at 20 μmol m−2 s−1. It was suggested that more geosmin was synthesized with lower chl a demand. Meanwhile, the relative amounts of extra- and intracellular geosmin were investigated. Under optimum growth conditions (20 μmol m−2 s−1, 25°C; BG-11 medium), the amounts of extracellular geosmin increased as the growth progressed and reached the maximum in the stationary phase, while the intracellular geosmin reached its maximum value in the late exponential phase, and then began to decline. However, under the low temperature (10°C) or light (10 μmol m−2 s−1) conditions, more intracellular geosmin was synthesized and mainly accumulated in the cells. The proportions of extracellular geosmin were high, to 33.33 and 32.27%, respectively, during the stationary phase at 35°C and 20 μmol m−2 s−1. It was indicated that low temperature or light could stimulate geosmin production and favor the accumulation of geosmin in cells, while more intracellular geosmin may be released into the medium at higher temperatures or optimum light intensity.

Identification of conditions underlying production of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol in a recirculating system

Geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) are semi-volatile terpenoid compounds produced as secondary metabolites by benthic and planktonic cyanobacteria, several genera of fungi, and various actinomycetes. These off-flavor compounds pose a heavy economic burden in the aquaculture industry rendering fish unmarketable unless purified by purging with large quantities of clean water. In the present study, the presence of off-flavor compounds was examined in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) for tilapia culture. In this zero-discharge system, where water from the fish basins is recirculated through parallel aerobic (drum filter and a trickling filter) and anaerobic treatment loops (sedimentation/digestion basin), concentrations of geosmin and, in particular, MIB were highest in the aerobic treatment loop. Lowest concentrations were detected in the anaerobic treatment loop. This latter finding pointed toward a possible reduction of these compounds in this basin. Two bacterial strains of the streptomycetes family were isolated from the aerobic, organic-rich, drum filter and the nitrifying trickling filter. In vitro tests with these isolates, closely related to Streptomyces roseoflavus and Streptomyces thermocarboxydus, revealed that MIB production exceeded geosmin production under all conditions tested and was significantly higher under aerobic than under anoxic conditions. Under the latter conditions, with nitrate as an electron donor, the S. roseoflavus-like isolate was capable of denitrification. Based on the results obtained in this study, it was concluded that aerobic, organic-rich conditions stimulate the growth of actinomycetes and subsequent production of geosmin and MIB in the system. The observed reduction of these compounds in the anaerobic water treatment component may serve in designing treatment steps aimed at alleviating the problem of geosmin and MIB accumulation in recirculating systems.

Comparing denitrification rates and carbon sources in commercial scale upflow denitrification biological filters in aquaculture

Aerobic biological filtration systems employing nitrifying bacteria to remediate excess ammonia and nitrite concentrations are common components of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). However, significant water exchange may still be necessary to reduce nitrate concentrations to acceptable levels unless denitrification systems are included in the RAS design. This study evaluated the design of a full scale denitrification reactor in a commercial culture RAS application. Four carbon sources were evaluated including methanol, acetic acid, molasses and Cerelose™, a hydrolyzed starch, to determine their applicability under commercial culture conditions and to determine if any of these carbon sources encouraged the production of two common “off-flavor” compounds, 2-methyisoborneol (MIB) or geosmin. The denitrification design consisted of a 1.89 m 3 covered conical bottom polyethylene tank containing 1.0 m 3 media through which water up-flowed at a rate of 10 lpm. A commercial aquaculture system housing 6 metric tonnes of Siberian sturgeon was used to generate nitrate through nitrification in a moving bed biological filter. All four carbon sources were able to effectively reduce nitrate to near zero concentrations from influent concentrations ranging from 11 to 57 mg/l NO 3–N, and the maximum daily denitrification rate was 670–680 g nitrogen removed/m 3 media/day, regardless of the carbon source. Although nitrite production was not a problem once the reactors achieved a constant effluent nitrate, ammonia production was a significant problem for units fed molasses and to a less extent Cerelose™. Maximum measured ammonia concentrations in the reactor effluents for methanol, vinegar, Cerelose™ and molasses were 1.62 ± 0.10, 2.83 ± 0.17, 4.55 ± 0.45 and 5.25 ± 1.26 mg/l NH 3–N, respectively. Turbidity production was significantly increased in reactors fed molasses and to a less extent Cerelose™. Concentrations of geosmin and MIB were not significantly increased in any of the denitrification reactors, regardless of carbon source. Because of its very low cost compared to the other sources tested, molasses may be an attractive carbon source for denitrification if issues of ammonia production, turbidity and foaming can be resolved.

A case study investigating the occurrence of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) in the surface waters of the Hinze Dam, Gold Coast, Australia

The Hinze Dam is located in the Gold Coast hinterland and is the primary source of water supply for the Gold Coast region. Sporadic and unpredictable taste and odour events caused by geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) are an ongoing problem in the Hinze Dam. To investigate potential ecological and physiological triggers of these events, a 12-month surface-sampling regime was undertaken. Concentrations of geosmin, MIB, nitrogen and phosphorus were measured. Algal and cyanobacterial counts were performed. Water temperature, rainfall and dam capacity were also recorded. The occurrence of geosmin was found to correlate significantly with Anabaena numbers, water temperature and dam capacity. The occurrence of MIB correlated with increasing ammonia. No significant correlations were observed with the other nutrients or physical parameters measured. Overall, this study demonstrated that high concentrations of geosmin detected in dam surface waters was strongly correlated with an increase in numbers of Anabaena spp. These events were most likely triggered by significant rainfall causing a pulse in nutrients into the dam, in conjunction with warmer water temperatures.

A comparison of biofilms from macrophytes and rocks for taste and odour producers in the St. Lawrence River

Given their widespread and prolific annual development in the St. Lawrence River (SLR), macrophytes (i.e. submerged aquatic plants) represent large surface areas for biofilm growth and potentially important sites for associated production of taste and odour (T&O) compounds. We therefore evaluated the importance of submerged macrophytes and their associated biofilms for production of T&O compounds, 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and geosmin (GM), compared with biofilms from adjacent rocks. We also tested the hypothesis that production of these compounds would differ between macrophyte species, based on the premise that they are not inert substrates but directly influence the communities that colonise their surfaces. Samples collected from transects across the SLR between Kingston and Cornwall, ON were dominated by the flat-bladed Vallisneria spp., and the leafed Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Chara spp., Potamgeton spp., and Ceratophyllum spp. Overall, MIB and GM levels in biofilms ranged widely between samples. Expressed per g dry weight of biofilm, median levels from macrophyte were 50 (range 1-5000) ng MIB g(-1) and 10 (<1 to 580) ng GM g(-1) compared with 50 (range 5-970) ng MIB g(-1) and 160 (1-1600) ng GM g(-1) from rocks. Based on non-parametric statistical analysis, levels of GM were higher on a g dry weight basis in biofilms from rocks than macrophytes (P = 0.02), but MIB levels were similar (P = 0.94). However, when normalised for differences in substrate surface area (i.e. ng cm(-2)), levels of both MIB and GM were higher in biofilms from rocks than from macrophytes (P < 0.01). There were no discernable differences in MIB and GM concentrations from biofilms of different macrophytes based on either g dry weight sample or surface area (P > 0.05). Overlying water (OLW) concentrations ranged between 2-45 ng L(-1) for MIB and 5-30 ng L(-1) for GM and were not correlated with levels in adjacent biofilms. However, OLW concentrations peaked in shallow, low energy embayments consistent with enhanced production and release of MIB and GM in nearshore areas. The results support our previous work showing the importance of biofilms on various surfaces (rocks, macrophytes and zebra mussels) for MIB and GM production in the SLR, but suggest that inert surfaces like rocks are more productive sites per unit surface area than macrophytes.

Annual dynamics and origins of the odorous compounds in the pilot experimental area of Lake Dianchi, China

Lake Dianchi is the sixth largest freshwater lake in China. The pilot experimental area (6 km2) in Lake Dianchi is one of the most severely polluted areas in the lake with heavy cyanobacteria blooms. During June 2002 to May 2003, the algal composition and number, and odorous compounds were identified monthly and monitored in the area. Meanwhile, physicochemical parameters such as total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD(Mn)), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, transparency, temperature and chlorophyll a (chla) were determined. Four odorous compounds: 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), geosmin, beta-cyclocitral and beta-ionone were found in the lake water. Both the concentration of particulate beta-cyclocitral and that of beta-ionone correlated significantly with the annual variation of Chla, biomass of total phytoplankton, cyanobacteria and Microcystis. The concentration of particulate MIB correlated significantly with the biomass of Oscillatoria, while the concentration of particulate geosmin correlated significantly with the biomass of Anabaena. Off-flavour in the pilot area was found to be caused by a combination of beta-cyclocitral- and beta-ionone-producing Microcystis, MIB-producing Oscillatoria and geosmin-producing Anabaena. beta-ionone, MIB and geosmin contributed collectively to the odour intensity in the lake water.

Ability of humans to smell geosmin, 2-MIB and nonadienal in indoor air when using contaminated drinking water

The most common compounds responsible for off flavours are geosmin, 2-MIB, and nonadienal which are poorly removed by conventional water treatment operations and hence result in customer complaints. Because these odourants are moderately volatile and have very low odour threshold values, it is necessary to determine their concentrations in air when water is used indoors. If the detectable aqueous concentrations for these odourants are known, the utilities may take action to treat their water at times when the concentration of the raw water exceeds the threshold concentration. To predict the concentration in the shower stall and bathroom air after showering, recently published Henry's law constants for the selected odourants and a model developed to determine the volatilization of the odourous compounds by applying two-resistance theory were used. Then the results were compared with the odour threshold concentration data to determine under which conditions the odourants become detectable. For parameters representing a typical bathroom and shower stall setting, the results showed that the odourants become detectable when the aqueous concentration of geosmin and nonadienal exceed 10 ng/L at 42 degrees C. As the aqueous concentration increases, geosmin and nonadienal become detectable at lower temperatures, however 2-MIB is only detectable above 20 ng/L and at 42 degrees C.

A fast stir bar sorptive extraction method for the analysis of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol in source and drinking water

The presence of unpleasant taste and odour in drinking water is an ongoing aesthetic concern for water providers worldwide. The need for a sensitive and robust method capable of analysis in both natural and treated waters is essential for early detection of taste and odour events. The purpose of this study was to develop and optimise a fast stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) method for the analysis of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) in both natural water and drinking water. Limits of detection with the optimised fast method (45 min extraction time at 60 degrees C using 24 microL stir bars) were 1.1 ng/L for geosmin and 4.2 ng/L for MIB. Relative standard deviations at the detection limits were under 17% for both compounds. Use of multiple stir bars can be used to decrease the detection limits further. The use of 25% NaCl and 5% methanol sample modifiers decreased the experimental recoveries. Likewise, addition of 1 mg/L and 1.5 mg/L NaOCI decreased the recoveries and this effect was not reversed by addition of 10% thiosulphate. The optimised method was used to measure geosmin concentrations in treated and untreated drinking water. MIB concentrations were below the detection limits in these waters.

Interlaboratory comparison of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol in municipal tap water

An interlaboratory comparison ("round-robin") for geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) was carried out between six laboratories of the Ontario Water Works Research Consortium (OWWRC). Municipal tap water was found to be a suitable medium for distribution of samples. To test stability, geosmin and MIB were added to tap water and stored at 2-4 degrees C. Under these conditions, geosmin concentrations declined by approximately 5% per month for the first 2 months. MIB concentrations were stable over a 158-day period. Three round-robins were carried out individually in 2001, 2003 and 2004. Two levels of geosmin and MIB were used: nominally 10 and 100 ng/l. In 2003 the relative standard deviation for all six participating laboratories were 34, 21, 21 and 22% for low and high level MIB, and low and high level geosmin, respectively. For all but MIB at the low level, there was a marked improvement in agreement between laboratories from 2001 to 2004. However, we recommend use of common analytical standards in order to potentially further reduce interlaboratory variability.

Relationship between volatile odorous substances and production of avermectins byStreptomyces avermitilis

The time course of production of odorous compounds, i.e. geosmin and oxolones, and of avermectins was determined during the cultivation of S. avermitilis in flasks, 1- and 50-L fermentors. The amount of the antibiotics increased with increasing cultivation time up to more than 2 g/L while the concentration of geosmin rose to more than 4 mg/L. Cultivation without reflux condenser resulted in a lower product formation due to the higher stripping of geosmin. A relatively tight correlation was found between the production of geosmin and the production of avermectins. The production of oxolones peaked on cultivation days 3-5, the sum of oxolones being 60 microg/L. Subsequently, the production dropped below a measurable level. This can be explained as being due to the inhibition of oxolone production by geosmin.

Biodegradation rates of 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and geosmin through sand filters and in bioreactors

Taste and odour (T&O) causing compounds, in particular, 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and geosmin, are a problem for water authorities as they are recalcitrant to conventional water treatment. In this study, biological sand filtration was shown to be an effective process for the complete removal of MIB and geosmin, with removal shown to be predominantly through biodegradation. In addition, MIB and geosmin were also effectively degraded in batch bioreactor experiments using biofilm sourced from one of the sand filters as the microbial inoculum. The biodegradation of MIB and geosmin was determined to be a pseudo-first-order reaction with rate constants ranging between 0.10 and 0.58 d −1 in the bioreactor experiments. Rate constants were shown to be dependent upon the initial concentration of the microbial inoculum but not the initial concentration of MIB and geosmin when target concentrations of 200 and 50 ng l −1 were used. Furthermore, rate constants were shown to increase upon re-exposure of the biofilm to both T&O compounds. Enrichment cultures with subsequent community profile analysis using 16S rRNA-directed PCR-DGGE identified four bacteria most likely involved in the biodegradation of geosmin within the sand filters and bioreactors. These included a Pseudomonas sp., Alphaproteobacterium, Sphingomonas sp. and an Acidobacteriaceae member.