Influence of the Chemical Form of Antimony on Soil Microbial Community Structure and Arsenite Oxidation Activity.

Title Influence of the Chemical Form of Antimony on Soil Microbial Community Structure and Arsenite Oxidation Activity.
Authors T. Kataoka; S. Mitsunobu; N. Hamamura
Journal Microbes Environ
DOI 10.1264/jsme2.ME17182
Abstract

In the present study, the influence of the co-contamination with various chemical forms of antimony (Sb) with arsenite (As[III]) on soil microbial communities was investigated. The oxidation of As(III) to As(V) was monitored in soil columns amended with As(III) and three different chemical forms of Sb: antimony potassium tartrate (Sb[III]-tar), antimony(III) oxide (SbO), and potassium antimonate (Sb[V]). Soil microbial communities were examined qualitatively and quantitatively using 16S rDNA- and arsenite oxidase gene (aioA)-targeted analyses. Microbial As(III) oxidation was detected in all soil columns and 90-100% of added As(III) (200 ? mol L) was oxidized to As(V) in 9 d, except in the Sb(III)-tar co-amendments that only oxidized 30%. 16S rDNA- and aioA-targeted analyses showed that the presence of different Sb chemical forms significantly affected the selection of distinct As(III)-oxidizing bacterial populations. Most of the 16S rRNA genes detected in soil columns belonged to Betaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria, and some sequences were closely related to those of known As(III) oxidizers. Co-amendments with Sb(III)-tar and high concentrations of SbO significantly increased the ratios of aioA-possessing bacterial populations, indicating the enrichment of As(III) oxidizers resistant to As and Sb toxicity. Under Sb co-amendment conditions, there was no correlation between aioA gene abundance and the rates of As(III) oxidation. Collectively, these results demonstrated that the presence of different Sb chemical forms imposed a strong selective pressure on the soil bacterial community and, thus, the co-existing metalloid is an important factor affecting the redox transformation of arsenic in natural environments.

Citation T. Kataoka; S. Mitsunobu; N. Hamamura.Influence of the Chemical Form of Antimony on Soil Microbial Community Structure and Arsenite Oxidation Activity.. Microbes Environ. 2018. doi:10.1264/jsme2.ME17182

Related Elements

Antimony

See more Antimony products. Antimony (atomic symbol: Sb, atomic number: 51) is a Block P, Group 15, Period 5 element with an atomic radius of 121.760. Antimony Bohr Model The number of electrons in each of antimony's shells is 2, 8, 18, 18, 5 and its electron configuration is [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p3. The antimony atom has a radius of 140 pm and a Van der Waals radius of 206 pm. Antimony was discovered around 3000 BC and first isolated by Vannoccio Biringuccio in 1540 AD. In its elemental form, antimony has a silvery lustrous gray appearance. Elemental Antimony The most common source of antimony is the sulfide mineral known as stibnite (Sb2S3), although it sometimes occurs natively as well. Antimony has numerous applications, most commonly in flame-retardant materials. It also increases the hardness and strength of lead when combined in an alloy and is frequently employed as a dopant in semiconductor materials. Its name is derived from the Greek words anti and monos, meaning a metal not found by itself.

Arsenic

See more Arsenic products. Arsenic (atomic symbol: As, atomic number: 33) is a Block P, Group 15, Period 4 element with an atomic radius of 74.92160. Arsenic Bohr ModelThe number of electrons in each of arsenic's shells is 2, 8, 18, 5 and its electron configuration is [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p3. The arsenic atom has a radius of 119 pm and a Van der Waals radius of 185 pm. Arsenic was discovered in the early Bronze Age, circa 2500 BC. It was first isolated by Albertus Magnus in 1250 AD. In its elemental form, arsenic is a metallic grey, brittle, crystalline, semimetallic solid. Elemental ArsenicArsenic is found in numerous minerals including arsenolite (As2O3), arsenopyrite (FeAsS), loellingite (FeAs2), orpiment (As2S3), and realgar (As4S4). Arsenic has numerous applications as a semiconductor and other electronic applications as indium arsenide, silicon arsenide and tin arsenide. Arsenic is finding increasing uses as a doping agent in solid-state devices such as transistors.