Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Recovery of in-situ methanotrophic activity following acetylene inhibition

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Biogeochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Methane (CH4) is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide (CO2). To understand CH4 cycling, quantitative information about microbial CH4 oxidation in soils is essential. Field methods such as the gas push-pull test (GPPT) to quantify CH4 oxidation are often used in combination with specific inhibitors, such as acetylene (C2H2). Acetylene irreversibly binds to the enzyme methane monooxygenase, but little is known about recovery of CH4 oxidation activity after C2H2 inhibition in situ, which is important when performing several experiments at the same location. To assess recovery of CH4 oxidation activity following C2H2 inhibition, we performed a series of GPPTs over 8 weeks at two different locations in the vadose zone above a petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifer in Studen, Switzerland. After 4 weeks a maximum recovery of 30% and 50% of the respective initial activity was reached, with a subsequent slight drop in activity at both locations. Likely, CH4 oxidation activity and CH4 concentrations were too low to allow for rapid recovery following C2H2 inhibition at the studied locations. Therefore, alternative competitive inhibitors have to be evaluated for application in conjunction with GPPTs, especially for sites with low activity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

GFC:

Gas flow controller

GPPT:

Gas push-pull test

References

  • Bodelier PLE, Frenzel P (1999) Contribution of methanotrophic and nitrifying bacteria to CH4 and NH4 + oxidation in the rhizosphere of rice plants as determined by new methods of discrimination. Appl Environ Microbiol 65:1826–1833

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolliger C, Höhener P, Hunkeler D, Häberli K, Zeyer J (1999) Intrinsic bioremediation of a petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifer and assessment of mineralization based on stable carbon isotopes. Biodegradation 10:201–217. doi:10.1023/A:1008375213687

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolliger C, Schönholzer F, Schroth MH, Hahn D, Bernasconi S, Zeyer J (2000) Characterizing intrinsic bioremediation in a petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifer by combined chemical, isotopic and biological analyses. Biorem J 4:359–371. doi:10.1080/10889860091114301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chan ASK, Parkin TB (2000) Evaluation of potential inhibitors of methanogenesis and methane oxidation in a landfill cover soil. Soil Biol Biochem 32:1581–1590. doi:10.1016/S0038-0717(00)00071-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ding W, Cai Z, Tsuruta H (2004) Summertime variation of methane oxidation in the rhizosphere of a Carex dominated freshwater marsh. Atmos Environ 38:4165–4173. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2004.04.022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn IJ, Heinzele E, Ingham J, Preenosil IE (1992) Biological reaction engineering – principles, applications and modelling with PC simulations. VCH, D-Weinheim

  • Frenzel P, Bosse U (1996) Methyl fluoride, an inhibitor of methane oxidation and methane production. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 21:25–36. doi:10.1111/j.1574-6941.1996.tb00330.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez-Gil G, Schroth MH, Zeyer J (2007) Transport of methane and noble gases during gas push-pull tests in dry porous media. Environ Sci Technol 41:3262–3268. doi:10.1021/es0618752

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanson RS, Hanson TE (1996) Methanotrophic bacteria. Microbiol Rev 60:439–471

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyman MR, Arp DJ (1992) 14C2H2- and 14CO2-labeling studies of the de Novo synthesis of polypeptides by Nitrosomonas europaea during recovery from acetylene and light inactivation of ammonia monooxygenase. J Biol Chem 267:1534–1545

    Google Scholar 

  • King GM (1996) In situ analyses of methane oxidation associated with the roots and rhizomes of a bur reed, Sparganium eurycarpum, in a Maine wetland. Appl Environ Microbiol 62:4548–4555

    Google Scholar 

  • Kruger M, Frenzel P, Conrad R (2001) Microbial processes influencing methane emission from rice fields. Glob Change Biol 7:49–63. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2486.2001.00395.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madsen EL (1998) Epistemology of environmental microbiology. Environ Sci Technol 32:429–439. doi:10.1021/es970551y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matheson LJ, Jahnke LL, Oremland RS (1997) Inhibition of methane oxidation by Methylococcus capsulatus with hydrochlorofluorocarbons and fluorinated methanes. Appl Environ Microbiol 63:2952–2956

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller LG, Sasson C, Oremland RS (1998) Difluoromethane, a new and improved inhibitor of methanotrophy. Appl Environ Microbiol 64:4357–4362

    Google Scholar 

  • Mosier AR, Parton WJ, Valentine DW, Ojima DS, Schimel DS, Delgado JA (1996) CH4 and N2O fluxes in the Colorado shortgrass steppe: 1. Impact of landscape and nitrogen addition. Global Biogeochem Cycles 10:387–399. doi:10.1029/96GB01454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oremland RS, Capone DG (1988) Use of specific inhibitors in biogeochemistry and microbial ecology. Adv Microb Ecol 10:285–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Oremland RS, Culbertson CW (1992) Importance of methane-oxidizing bacteria in the methane budget as revealed by the use of a specific inhibitor. Nature 356:421–423. doi:10.1038/356421a0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prior SD, Dalton H (1985) Acetylene as a suicide substrate and active site probe for methane monooxygenase from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath). FEMS Microbiol Lett 29:105–109. doi:10.1111/j.1574-6968.1985.tb00843.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramaswamy V, Boucher O, Haigh J, Hauglustaine J, Haywood J, Myhre G et al (2001) Radiative forcing of climate change. In: Houghton JT, Ding Y, Griggs DJ, Noguer M, van der Linden PJ, Dai X, Maskell K, Johnson CA (eds) IPCC third assessment report – climate change 2001: the scientific basis. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 349–416

    Google Scholar 

  • Reeburgh WS (2003) Global methane biogeochemistry. In: Holland HD, Turekian KK (eds) Treatise on geochemistry. Elsevier, New York, pp 65–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Schroth MH, Istok JD (2006) Models to determine first-order rate coefficients from single-well push-pull tests. Ground Water 44:275–283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schroth MH, Istok JD, Haggerty R (2001) In situ evaluation of solute retardation using single-well push-pull tests. Adv Water Resour 24:105–117. doi:10.1016/S0309-1708(00)00023-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scow KM, Hicks KA (2005) Natural attenuation and enhanced bioremediation of organic contaminants in groundwater. Curr Opin Biotechnol 16:246–253. doi:10.1016/j.copbio.2005.03.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Urmann K, Gonzalez-Gil G, Schroth MH, Hofer M, Zeyer J (2005) New field method: gas push-pull test for the in-situ quantification of microbial activities in the vadose zone. Environ Sci Technol 39:304–310. doi:10.1021/es0495720

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Urmann K, Gonzalez-Gil G, Schroth MH, Zeyer J (2007a) Quantification of microbial methane oxidation in an alpine peat bog. Vadose Zone J 6:705–712. doi:10.2136/vzj2006.0185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Urmann K, Norina SE, Schroth MH, Zeyer J (2007b) Methanotrophic activity in a diffusive methane/oxygen counter-gradient in an unsaturated porous medium. J Contam Hydrol 94:126–138. doi:10.1016/j.jconhyd.2007.05.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Urmann K, Schroth MH, Noll M, Gonzalez-Gil G, Zeyer J (2008) Assessment of microbial methane oxidation above a petroleum-contaminated aquifer using a combination of in-situ techniques. J Geophys Res Biogeosci 113. doi:10.1029/2006JG000363

  • Whalen SC, Reeburgh WS (1996) Moisture and temperature sensitivity of CH4 oxidation in boreal soils. Soil Biol Biochem 28:1271–1281. doi:10.1016/S0038-0717(96)00139-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilhelm E, Battino R, Wilcock RJ (1977) Low-pressure solubility of gases in liquid water. Chem Rev 77:219–262. doi:10.1021/cr60306a003

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Guy Kneip for his initial work on recovery from C2H2 inhibition, which provided valuable information for this study. We would also like to thank Rang Cho, David Müller, Philipp Nauer and Juliane Wischnewski (ETH Zurich) for help with field work. Funding for the research was provided by ETH Zurich, in part through Grant TH-20 06-3. Helpful suggestions by two anonymous reviewers were greatly appreciated.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zurich, Universitätsstrasse 16, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    Karina Urmann, Martin H. Schroth & Josef Zeyer

Authors
  1. Karina Urmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Martin H. Schroth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Josef Zeyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martin H. Schroth.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Urmann, K., Schroth, M.H. & Zeyer, J. Recovery of in-situ methanotrophic activity following acetylene inhibition. Biogeochemistry 89, 347–355 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-008-9223-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-008-9223-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation