• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.812-821
• /
• 2007

The ecosystems of certain abandoned mines contain arsenic-resistant bacteria capable of performing detoxification when an ars gene is present in the bacterial genome. The ars gene has already been isolated from Pseudomonas putida and identified as a member of the membrane transport regulatory deoxyribonucleic acid family. The arsenite-oxidizing bacterial strains isolated in the present study were found to grow in the presence of 66.7 mM sodium arsenate($V;\;Na_2HAsO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$), yet experienced inhibited growth when the sodium arsenite($III;\;NaAsO_2$) concentration was higher than 26 mM. Batch experiment results showed that Pseudomonas putida strain OS-5 completely oxidized 1 mM of As(III) to As(V) within 35 h. An arsB gene encoding a membrane transport regulatory protein was observed in arsenite-oxidizing Pseudomonas putida strain OS-5, whereas arsB, arsH, and arrA were detected in strain OS-19, arsD and arsB were isolated from strain RW-18, and arsR, arsD, and arsB were found in E. coli strain OS-80. The leader gene of arsR, -arsD, was observed in a weak acid position. Thus, for bacteria exposed to weak acidity, the ars system may cause changes to the ecosystems of As-contaminated mines. Accordingly, the present results suggest that arsR, arsD, arsAB, arsA, arsB, arsC, arsH, arrA, arrB, aoxA, aoxB, aoxC, aoxD, aroA, and aroB may be useful for arsenite-oxidizing bacteria in abandoned arsenic-contaminated mines.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.26 no.8
• /
• pp.1375-1382
• /
• 2016

The extremely halophilic archaeon Halobacterium noricense is a member of the genus Halobacterium. Strain CBA1132 (= KCCM 43183, JCM 31150) was isolated from solar salt. The genome of strain CBA1132 assembled with 4 contigs, including three rRNA genes, 44 tRNA genes, and 3,208 open reading frames. Strain CBA1132 had nine putative CRISPRs and the genome contained genes encoding metal resistance determinants: copper-translocating P-type ATPase (CtpA), arsenical pump-driving ATPase (ArsA), arsenate reductase (ArsC), and arsenical resistance operon repressor (ArsR). Strain CBA1132 was related to Halobacterium noricense, with 99.2% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Based on the comparative genomic analysis, strain CBA1132 has distinctly evolved; moreover, essential genes related to nitrogen metabolism were only detected in the genome of strain CBA1132 among the reported genomes in the genus Halobacterium. This genome sequence of Halobacterium noricense CBA1132 may be of use in future molecular biological studies.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.32 no.8
• /
• pp.795-801
• /
• 2010

The acute toxicity of arsenic compounds was assessed and compared using following four bioassays; bioluminescence activity of the recombinant strain RB1436, germination of four different seeds, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity produced by Bacillus lichemiformis, acute genetic revertant mutation using mutant strain Salmonella typhimurium. Different sensitivities were observed among tested bioassays, but generally the toxicity by arsenite was greater than that of arsenate. Among tested four seeds, sensitivities of Lactucus and Raphanus were greater than others, and these two seed types were appeared as proper type for bioassay. High revertant mutation ratio (5.1) was observed with 1 mg/L arsenite, indicating high mutagenicity. The sensitivity of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity on arsenic compounds was much lower than other methods. The evaluation of interactive toxic effects using various bioassays may comprise a useful tool for the bioassessment of environmental pollutants.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.25-30
• /
• 2022

Mackinawite (FeS), as a ubiquitous reduced iron mineral, is known as a key controller of redox reactions in anaerobic subsurface environment. The reaction of FeS with redox-sensitive toxic element such as arsenic is substantially affected by pH conditions of the given environments. In this study, the interaction of As(V) with FeS was studied under strict anaerobic conditions with various pH conditions. The pH-dependent arsenic removal tests were conducted under wide ranges of pH conditions and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was applied to investigate the reaction mechanisms under pH 5, 7, and 9. The removal efficiency of FeS for As(V) showed the higher removal of As(V) under low pH conditions and its removal efficiency decreased with increasing pH, and no As(V) reduction was observed in 1 g/L FeS solution. However, XAS analysis indicated the reduction of As(V) to As(III) occurred during reaction between FeS and As(V). The reduced form of As(III) was particularly identified as an arsenic sulfide mineral (As₂S₃) in all pH conditions (pH 5, 7, and 9). As₂S₃ precipitation was more pronounced in pH 5 where the solubility of FeS is higher than in other pH conditions. The linear combination fitting results of XAS demonstrated that As(V) removal mechanism is concerted processes of As₂S₃ precipitation and surface complexation of both arsenic species.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.199-205
• /
• 2023

Arsenic is a highly toxic element, and its contamination is widespread around the world. The natural materials with high selectivity and efficiency toward pollutants are important in wastewater treatment technology. In this study, the mesoporous synthetic hectorite was synthesized by facile hydrothermal crystallization of gels comprising silica, magnesium hydroxide, and lithium fluoride. Additionally, the naturally available clay was modified using zirconium at room temperature. Both synthetic and modified natural clays were employed in the removal of arsenate from aquatic environments. The materials were fully characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) analyses. The synthesized materials were used to remove arsenic (V) under varied physicochemical conditions. Both materials, i.e., Zr-bentonite and Zr-hectorite, showed high percentage removal of arsenic (V) at lower pH, and the efficiency decreased in an alkaline medium. The equilibrium-state sorption data agrees well with the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms, and the maximum sorption capacity is found to be 4.608 and 2.207 mg/g for Zr-bentonite and Zr-hectorite, respectively. The kinetic data fits well with the pseudo-second order kinetic model. Furthermore, the effect of the background electrolytes study indicated that arsenic (V) is specifically sorbed at the surface of these two nanocomposites. This study demonstrated that zirconium intercalated synthetic hectorite as well as zirconium modified natural clays are effective and efficient materials for the selective removal of arsenic (V) from aqueous medium.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of the leaching of metal components from CCA-treated wood during outdoor exposure. CCA-treated wood specimens were placed horizontally or buried vertically into the soil, and then exposed to the natural environment for a year. Wood samples were collected from the side of the horizontal wood specimens using a drill and saw dust samples were collected at the end of the exposure. Soil samples were also obtained around the wood specimens and at different depths of the posts. Wood and soil samples were analyzed for metals using an atomic absorption spectrometer. Monthly metal concentrations varied greatly and more metals were released when wood specimens were exposed vertically than horizontally. Arsenic was released from the wood by 80 % of the intial content. In addition, more leaching was observed from the zone below the ground than above the ground, and soil around the posts was contaminated with metals released from CCA-treated wood.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.54-64
• /
• 2006

Chromated copper arsenate (CCA), a wood preservative, has been widely used to protect wood products from attacks by bacteria, fungi and insects. However, the use of CCA is currently forbidden or limited to some applications in many countries because the toxic elements (Cr, Cu, and As) of CCA are released into the environments during outdoor uses, which may cause adverse health effects on humans and ecological systems. This study was conducted to investigate the distributions of chromium, copper and arsenic in soils adjacent to two CCA-treated wood structures. In a 7 month old pond entry structure, ten surface soil samples (0-2.5 cm) were collected at lateral distances of 0, 0.5, and 1 m from the stairway, and nine surface soil samples were collected beneath the deck. Nine top soil samples were taken from a 2 year old sound barrier structure at lateral distances of 0, 1, and 2 m. Background surface soil samples were also collected from each structure. Samples were analyzed for some physicochemical properties such as pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter content, and soil texture. Following the extraction of the elements with a microwave digestion system, samples were analyzed for Cr, Cu, and As. The concentrations of the three elements in soils adjacent to the structures were significantly elevated compared to the background levels, indicating that the elements have been leached out of the structures. Released e1ements showed lateral concentration gradients within 1 m. The elevations of the three elements in soils underneath the deck did not seem different (background-corrected concentrations: Cr, 5.01 mg/kg; Cu, 5.50 mg/kg; As, 4.91 mg/kg), while the elements in soils near the sound barrier were elevated in the order of As>Cu>Cr with measured concentrations of 49.7, 44.7 and 52.5 mg/kg, respectively. Background As, Cu, and Cr concentrations near the sound barrier were 9.88, 30.8, and 46.5 mg/kg, respectively. These results showed that CCA constituents are released into the environment and it is suggested that risk assessment need to be conducted to investigate harmful effects of the released elements on humans and ecological systems.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.631-638
• /
• 2010

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of zerovalent iron and basic oxygen furnace slag on arsenic stabilization in soils. For this, arsenic (V) contaminated soil and roxarsone contaminated soil were incubated after incorporation with zerovalent iron (ZVI) or basic oxygen furnace slage (BOFS) at four different levels (0%, 1%, 3%, and 5%) for 30 days and then the residual concentrations of arsenic were analysed following extraction with aqua reqia, 1N HCl and 0.01 M $CaCl_2$. The total concentration of arsenic was 2,285 mg/kg in the As(V) contaminated soil and 6.5 mg/kg in the roxarsone contaminated soil. 1 N HCl extractable arsenic concentration in the As(V) contaminated soil was initially 1,351 mg/kg and this was significantly declined by 713~1,034 mg/kg following incubation with ZVI while BOFS treatment showed no effect on the stabilization of inorganic arsenate except 5% treatment which showed around 100 mg/kg reduction in 1N HCl extractable arsenic. Similarly, in the roxarsone contaminated soil 1N HCl extractable concentration of arsenic was reduced from 3.13 mg/kg to 0.69 mg/kg with ZVI treatment increased from 1% to 5% while BOFS treatment did not lead to any statistically significant reduction. Available (0.01M $CaCl_2$ extractable) arsenic was initially 0.85 mg/kg in the As(V) contaminated soil and this declined by 0.79 mg/kg following incorporation with 5% ZVI, which accounted for more than 90% of the available As in the control. When As(V)-contaminated soil was treated with BOFS, the available arsenic was increased due to competing effect of the phosphate originated from BOFS with arsenate for the adsorption sites. For the roxarsone contaminated soil, the greater the treatment of ZVI or BOFS, the lower the available arsenic concentration although it was still higher than that of the control.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.177-189
• /
• 2009

Iron (oxyhydr)oxides commonly form as secondary minerals of high reactivity and large surface area resulting from alteration and weathering of primary minerals, and they are efficient sorbents for inorganic and organic contaminants. Accordingly, they have a great potential in industrial applications and are also of substantial interest in environmental sciences. Goethite (${\alpha}$-FeOOH) is one of the most ubiquitous and stable forms of iron (oxyhydr)oxides in terrestrial soils, sediments, and ore deposits, as well as a common weathering product in rocks of all types. This study focused on adsorption reaction as a main mechanism in scavenging arsenic using goethite. Goethite was synthesized in the laboratory to get high purity, and a variety of mineralogical and physicochemical features of goethite were measured and related to adsorption characteristics of arsenic. To compare differences in adsorption reactions between arsenic species, in addition, a variety of experiments to acquire adsorption isotherm, adsorption edges, and adsorption kinetics were accomplished. The point of zero charge (PZC) of the laboratory-synthesized goethite was measured to be 7.6, which value seems to be relatively higher, compared to those of other iron (oxyhydr)oxides. Its specific surface area appeared to be $29.2\;m^2/g$ and it is relatively smaller than those of other (oxyhydr)oxides. As a result, it was speculated that goethite shows a smaller adsorption capacity. It is likely that the affinity of goethite is much more larger for As(III) (arsenite) than for As(V) (arsenate), because As(III) was observed to be much more adsorbed on goethite than As(V) in equivalent pH conditions. When the adsorption of each arsenic species onto goethite was characterized in various of pH, the adsorption of As(III) was largest in neutral pH range (7.0~9.0) and decreased in both acidic and alkaline pH conditions. In the case of As(V), the adsorption appeared to be highest in the lowest pH condition, and then decreased with an increase of pH. This peculiarity of arsenic adsorption onto goethite might be caused by macroscopic electrostatic interactions due to variation in chemical speciation of arsenic and surface charge of goethite, and also it is significantly affected by change in pH. Parabolic diffusion model was adequate to effectively evaluate arsenic adsorption on goethite, and the regression results show that the kinetic constant of As(V) is larger than that of As(III).

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.229-244
• /
• 2013

Arsenic contamination may be brought about by a variety of natural and anthropogenic causes. Among diverse naturally-occurring chemical speciations of arsenic, trivalent (As(III), arsenite) and pentavalent (As(V), arsenate) forms have been reported to be the most predominant ones. It has been well known that the behavior of arsenic is chiefly affected by aluminum, iron, and manganese oxides. For this reason, this study was initiated to evaluate the applicability of manganese slag (Mn-slag) containing high level of Mn, Si, and Ca as an efficient sorbent of arsenic. The main properties of Mn-slag as a sorbent were investigated and the sorption of each arsenic species onto Mn-slag was characterized from the aspects of equilibrium as well as kinetics. The specific surface area and point of zero salt effect (PZSE) of Mn-slag were measured to be $4.04m^2/g$ and 7.73, respectively. The results of equilibrium experiments conducted at pH 4, 7 and 10 suggest that the sorbed amount of As(V) was relatively higher than that of As(III), indicating the higher affinity of As(V) onto Mn-slag. As a result of combined effect of pH-dependent chemical speciations of arsenic as well as charge characteristics of Mn-slag surface, the sorption maxima were observed at pH 4 for As(V) and pH 7 for As(III). The sorption of both arsenic species reached equilibrium within 3 h and fitting of the experimental results to various kinetic models shows that the pseudo-second-order and parabolic models are most appropriate to simulate the system of this study.