Quinone Profile Method Research Articles

Soil Microbial Biomass and Diversity Amended with Bagasse Mulch in Tillage and No-tillage Practices in the Sugarcane Plantation

Biomass residues in plantation farms and process industries still have valuable materials and can be recycled as other materials. Gunung Madu Plantation (GMP) in Lampung Province, Indonesia where this study was observed had used bagasse as mulch 80 tons (wet weight) per hectare. This study observed the effect of tillage and bagasse much on soil microbes in sugarcane plantation. Each treatment was used in conjunction with or without bagasse mulch in a split-plot experimental design. Previous study showed bagasse mulch had increased litter fungal biomass and communities in the soil. However soil microbial community structure has not been comprehensively investigated. Quinone profile method was used to analyze the community structure amended with bagasse mulch in the sugarcane plantation. Quinone profile method reflectively estimated the microbial biomass and the diversity. The no-tillage with bagasse mulch had the highest microbial biomass (1.026μmol kg-1 dry soil) compare to the no-tillage without bagasse mulch, the conventional tillage with bagasse mulch and the conventional tillage without bagasse mulch. The Diversity index (DQ) and Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H) was also the highest in the no-tillage amended with bagasse mulch. Therefore mulch treatment in combination with no-tillage is an effective residue management of biomass residue to improve soil quality.

Approach for Estimating Microbial Growth and Biodegradation of Hydrocarbon Contaminants in Subsoil Based on Field Measurements: 2. Application in a Field Lysimeter Experiment

A new approach was applied to represent the natural attenuation of hydrocarbon (HC) contaminants as observed in a field lysimeter experiment. The approach describes the microbial growth on HC contaminants and linked HC biodegradation under natural precipitation conditions. The HC contaminants contained an inert component (n-dodecane) and soluble components (toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene isomers, and naphthalene), and their attenuation processes were predicted. The respiratory quinone profile method is used to indicate temporary changes in in situ microbial biomass possessed by HC-degrading microorganisms in soils. On the basis of field measurements conducted during the initial 92 days post-HC contamination, the kinetic parameters of HC-degrading microorganisms were estimated, which were used for the prediction of microbial growth and linked HC-contaminant depletion in the contaminated soil for the subsequent 259 days. The prediction was in good agreement with the measured HC concentration and corresponding respiratory quinones from HC-degrading microorganisms. The results indicate that the proposed approach can provide a reliable prediction of HC depletion in subsoil on the basis of field measurements. Further efforts are expected to incorporate the approach into a multiphase flow and multicomponent transport model for application to actual HC-contaminated sites.

Effects of Raw Materials and Bulking Agents on the Thermophilic Composting Process

Three typical biological solid wastes, animal manure, garbage, and sewage sludge, were compared with regard for the composting process and the changes in microbial community structure. The effect of different bulking agents such as rice straw, vermiculite, sawdust, and waste paper were compared in manure compost. The differences in the microbial community were characterized by the quinone profile method. The highest mass reduction was found in garbage composting (56.8%), compared to manure and sludge at 25% and 20.2%, respectively. A quinone content of 305.2 micromol/kg was observed in the late stage of garbage composting, although the diversity index of quinone profile was 9.7, lower than that in manure composting. The predominant quinone species were found to be MK-7, which corresponds to gram positive bacteria with low G+C content such as Bacillus. The predominance of MK-7 was especially found in garbage and sludge composting process, while the increase in quinones with partially saturated long side chain was shown in late composting process of manure, which corresponded to the proliferation of Actinobacteria. The effect of different bulking agents on the composting process was much smaller than the effect of different raw materials. High organic matter content in the raw materials results in a higher microbial biomass and activity, which was connected to the high mass reduction rate.

Effects of the internal recycling rate on biological nutrient removal and microbial community structure in a sequential anoxic/anaerobic membrane bioreactor

This study investigated the effects of the internal recycling rate on nutrients removal in a sequential anoxic/anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAM). Microbial community structure in sludge from the SAM was studied using quinone profile method. Above 98% COD, 68% nitrogen, and 55% phosphorus removal efficiencies were achieved when the internal recycling rate was 2.5 times influent flow. At that rate, the optimum specific nitrate loading rate and COD/NO(3)-N ratio were found to be 2.24 mgNO(3)-N g(-1) MLSS h(-1) and 9.13, respectively. Batch tests demonstrated that anoxic condition suppressed phosphorus release, and that denitrification was also influenced by initial substrate concentration. Denitrification appeared to have some priority over phosphorus release for substrate uptake. Microbial community analysis revealed a predominance of the subclass beta-Proteobacteria. Furthermore, it was found that Rhodocyclus-related bacteria were efficient at phosphorus removal than Actinobacteria.

The effect of clams ( Tapes philippinarum) on changes in microbial community structure in tidal flat sediment mesocosms, based on quinone profiles

To elucidate the relationship between macrobiotics and microorganisms on pollutant degradation in tidal flat sediment, changes in water quality were monitored and shifts in microbial community structure were evaluated using the quinone profile method in mesocosms of tidal and subtidal flat sediment with and without clams. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and NH 4-N concentrations in pore water of tidal sediment with clams were higher than in sediment without clams over a 24 h period. This is explained by the ability of clams to consume particulate organic matter and excrete DOC and NH 4-N. Otherwise, the effect of clams was relatively low in subtidal sediments. The presence of clams and tidal conditions changed the predominant quinone species in both sediments. Ubiquinone with 10-isoprene unit (UQ-10) and menaquinone with 6-isoprene unit (MK-6) were predominant quinone species in tidal and subtidal sediment with clams, respectively. The effect of clams on changes in microbial community structure in tidal sediment was more rapid than in subtidal sediment. The differences in microbial community structure in tidal sediment with and without clams were mainly due to the profile changes in UQ-8, UQ-9, UQ-10, MK-7 (H 8) and MK-9 (H 2)-containing bacteria.

Changes in the microbial community structure during thermophilic composting of manure as detected by the quinone profile method

Quinone profiles and physico-chemical properties were measured to characterize the microbial community structure during a 14-day thermophilic composting of cattle manure mixed with rice straw as a bulking agent. The change in total quinone content (TQ) and the divergence of quinone (DQ) indicated that the microbial biomass reached a peak followed by a decrease, whereas the microbial community diversity increased continuously during the composting process. The high mole fraction of ubiquinones in the raw materials, and at the beginning of the composting period suggested that fungi and/or Proteobacteria were present. The predominance of MK-7 from days 3 to 7 suggested that Bacillus spp. were the main microbial species. An increase in partially saturated and long-chain menaquinones during the latter composting period indicated that the proliferation of various species of Actinobacteria was occurring. The microbial community structure, as expressed by TQ and DQ, corresponded well to physico-chemical properties such as the C/N ratio, pH, O 2 consumption and compost mass reduction.

Microbial Community Structures of Activated Sludges Dominated with Polyphosphate-Accumulating Bacteria and Glycogen-Accumulating Bacteria

The microbial community structures of anaerobic-aerobic activated sludges, which are dominated with polyphosphate-accumulating bacteria (PABs) and glycogen-accumulating bacteria (GABs), were investigated by quinone profile method and dual staining DAPI (4-, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindol dihydrochloride) with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). For both activated sludges, the predominant bacterial groups were the beta subclass of the Proteobacteria that contained mainly Q-8 as analyzed by the quinone profile method and gram-positive bacteria with a high DNA G+C content based on FISH. A 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probe (MP2) specific for M. phosphovorus, a known polyphosphate-accumulating bacterium, was also applied to PABs and GABs-enriched activated sludge to evaluate their possible role in the enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) process. Interestingly, the bacteria that hybridized with the probe specific to M. phosphovorus in the sludge dominated with PABs represent about 6.9 % of the total microorganisms. In the sludge dominated with GABs, these bacteria were about 1.9%. These results suggest its possible involvement in the EBPR process.

Microbial community analysis of thermophilic contact oxidation process by using ribosomal RNA approaches and the quinone profile method

Microbial community structure of a lab scale thermophilic aerobic wastewater treatment reactor was analyzed by a combination of culture-independent methods. Quinone profile method provides for chemical analysis of respiratory quinone molecular species, which corresponds to bacterial groups. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA partial sequences (PCR-DGGE) clarifies community changes at species level, as DGGE can separate DNA fragments of different sequences. Certain phylogenetic groups of bacterial cells can be labeled by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Quinone profile showed a predominant presence of MK-7. PCR-DGGE revealed that constituents of the community were unchanged during the stable phase. FISH demonstrated the existence of the relatives of Bacillus lentus and B. thermocloacae in considerable proportions. The community was mainly composed of Bacillaceae, and obligate thermophilic and mesophilic Bacillus appeared in spite of the temperature fluctuation from 35°C to 60°C. The combination of these culture-independent methods revealed the community precisely enough to evaluate the reactor performance.

Effects of biodegradable substrates and microbial concentration on the acclimation of microbes to acrylonitrile in aerobic submerged biofilter

The effects of coexistence-of biodegradable substrates and microbial concentration on the acclimation of microbes to acrylonitrile (AN) in an aerobic submerged biofilter were investigated on the basis of kinetic and ecological studies. The experimental results show that the acclimation of microbial film to AN was promoted by a higher microbial concentration in the biofilter and by the coexistence of glucose and peptone in the influent. It was clarified that the upper limit of AN loading to the biofilter for the ultimate degradation, i.e., complete mineralization, of the influent AN was about 2.0-2.2 kg/m3. d. In addition, a new microbial quinone profile method was applied for the analysis of the microbial community change in the biofilter. The change in quinone profiles of the microbial film during the acclimation to AN suggested that Brevibacterium sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Corynebacterium sp. could contribute to the degradation of AN in the aerobic biofilter.

Effects of biodegradable substrates and microbial concentration on the acclimation of microbes to acrylonitrile in aerobic submerged biofilter

The effects of coexistence-of biodegradable substrates and microbial concentration on the acclimation of microbes to acrylonitrile (AN) in an aerobic submerged biofilter were investigated on the basis of kinetic and ecological studies. The experimental results show that the acclimation of microbial film to AN was promoted by a higher microbial concentration in the biofilter and by the coexistence of glucose and peptone in the influent. It was clarified that the upper limit of AN loading to the biofilter for the ultimate degradation, i.e., complete mineralization, of the influent AN was about 2.0–2.2 kg/m3. d. In addition, a new microbial quinone profile method was applied for the analysis of the microbial community change in the biofilter. The change in quinone profiles of the microbial film during the acclimation to AN suggested that Brevibacterium sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Corynebacterium sp. could contribute to the degradation of AN in the aerobic biofilter.

Numerical analysis of lipoquinone patterns in monitoring bacterial community dynamics in wastewater treatment systems.

AKIRA HIRAISHI,* YOSHIAKI MORISHIMA, AND JUN-ICHI TAKEUCHII Tokyo Research Laboratory, Konishi Co., Ltd., Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130, Japan 1 Shingashi Treatment Plant, Bureau of Sewage-Works, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 175, Japan (Received September 21, 1990)The quinone composition of 10 sludge samples consisting of plant-derived activated sludges, laboratory activated sludges, and photosynthetic sludges was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, and mass spectrometry. The quinone profiles of these sludges showed taxonomic divergence among the sludge bacterial communities. The information could be enhanced by numerical analysis of the profiles using the `overlap' coefficient and mean linkage algorithm. This analytical system provided quantitative information about the population shift in the indigenous bacterial flora of sludge as affected by physico-chemical or biological stress. The quinone profile method with numerical analysis is quite useful for investigating the bacterial community dynamics over time and space, without the necessity of culturing.