Degradation of multiwall carbon nanotubes by bacteria

Liwen Zhang; Elijah J Petersen; Mussie Y Habteselassie; Liang Mao; Qingguo Huang

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2013.05.058

Degradation of multiwall carbon nanotubes by bacteria

Environ Pollut. 2013 Oct:181:335-9. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.05.058. Epub 2013 Jul 13.

Authors

Liwen Zhang¹, Elijah J Petersen, Mussie Y Habteselassie, Liang Mao, Qingguo Huang

Affiliation

¹ Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, GA 30223, United States.

PMID: 23859846
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.05.058

Abstract

Understanding the environmental transformation of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is important to their life cycle assessment and potential environmental impacts. We report that a bacterial community is capable of degrading (14)C-labeled MWCNTs into (14)CO2 in the presence of an external carbon source via co-metabolism. Multiple intermediate products were detected, and genotypic characterization revealed three possible microbial degraders: Burkholderia kururiensis, Delftia acidovorans, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. This result suggests that microbe/MWCNTs interaction may impact the long-term fate of MWCNTs.

Keywords: Aerobic biotransformation; Carbon nanotubes; Microbial degradation; Nanotoxicology.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Bacteria / metabolism*
Biodegradation, Environmental
Carbon / analysis
Carbon / metabolism
Environmental Pollutants / analysis
Environmental Pollutants / metabolism*
Nanotubes, Carbon / analysis*

Substances

Environmental Pollutants
Nanotubes, Carbon
Carbon