Biodegradation of polyvinyl chloride plastic films by enriched anaerobic marine consortia.

Plastics remarkably contribute to marine litter, which is raising serious concerns. Currently, little is known about the fate of most plastics entering the marine environment and their potential biodegradation rate and extent under anoxic conditions. In this work, biodegradation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) films by consortia enriched from marine samples (litter and water) was evaluated in anaerobic microcosms.

Polyvinyl chloride biodegradation by Pseudomonas citronellolis and Bacillus flexus.

The accumulation of high amounts of petroleum-derived plastics in the environment has raised ecological and health concerns. The aim of this work was to study the biodegradative abilities of five bacterial strains, namely Pseudomonas chlororaphis, Pseudomonas citronellolis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus flexus and Chelatococcus daeguensis, towards polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride films under aerobic conditions. Preliminary screening resulted in the selection of P.

Bacterial polyextremotolerant bioemulsifiers from arid soils improve water retention capacity and humidity uptake in sandy soil.

Background: Water stress is a critical issue for plant growth in arid sandy soils. Here, we aimed to select bacteria producing polyextremotolerant surface-active compounds capable of improving water retention and humidity uptake in sandy soils.

Results: From Tunisian desert and saline systems, we selected eleven isolates able to highly emulsify different organic solvents.

Marinobacter sp. from marine sediments produce highly stable surface-active agents for combatting marine oil spills.

Background: The application of chemical dispersants as a response to marine oil spills is raising concerns related to their potential toxicity also towards microbes involved in oil biodegradation. Hence, oil spills occurring under marine environments necessitate the application of biodispersants that are highly active, stable and effective under marine environment context. Biosurfactants from marine bacteria could be good candidates for the development of biodispersant formulations effective in marine environment.

A new non-degenerate primer pair for the specific detection of the nitrite reductase gene nrfA in the genus Desulfovibrio.

Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia (DNRA) is the process in which nitrate is reduced, via nitrite, to ammonia. Bacteria known to carry out DNRA mainly originate from wastewater treatment plants, where DNRA is a relevant process. The ability to carry out DNRA is phylogenetically widespread, and the gene nrfA, encoding for the key enzyme of the second step of the pathway, could be used as a marker for this process.

Degradation of nitrocellulose-based paint by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATCC 13541.

Nitrocellulose is one of the most commonly used compounds in ammunition and paint industries and its recalcitrance to degradation has a negative impact on human health and the environment. In this study the capability of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATCC 13541 to degrade nitrocellulose as binder in paint was assayed for the first time. Nitrocellulose-based paint degradation was followed by monitoring the variation in nitrate, nitrite and ammonium content in the culture medium using Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy.

Microbial deterioration of artistic tiles from the façade of the Grande Albergo Ausonia & Hungaria (Venice, Italy).

The Grande Albergo Ausonia & Hungaria (Venice Lido, Italy) has an Art Nouveau polychrome ceramic coating on its façade, which was restored in 2007. Soon after the conservation treatment, many tiles of the façade decoration showed coloured alterations putatively attributed to the presence of microbial communities. To confirm the presence of the biological deposit and the stratigraphy of the Hungaria tiles, stereomicroscope, optical and environmental scanning electron microscope observations were made.

Feasibility of removing surface deposits on stone using biological and chemical remediation methods.

The study was conducted on alterations found on stone artwork and integrates microbial control and a biotechnological method for the removal of undesirable chemical substances. The Demetra and Cronos sculptures are two of 12 stone statues decorating the courtyard of the Buonconsiglio Castle in Trento (Italy). An initial inspection of the statues revealed putative black crusts and highlighted the microbial contamination causing discoloration.

N-vanillylnonanamide tested as a non-toxic antifoulant, applied to surfaces in a polyurethane coating.

The potential on N-vanillylnonanamide (NVN) in preventing the attachment of Pseudomonas stutzeri and a Bacillus cereus-group strain was investigated. NVN up to 852 microM was not toxic, nor was it an energy source for either organism. Microbial attachment assays were carried out on glass and polylysine slides.