The formation of malodorous dimethyl oligosulphides in treated groundwater: the role of biofilms and potential precursors.
Water distributed from the Wanneroo Groundwater Treatment Plant intermittently containsdimethyl trisulphide (DMTS). The compound is responsible for a "swampy odour" in the water. DMTS production from potential precursors was insignificant in the absence of biofilms when compared with DMTS...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Elsevier Science Ltd
2001
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/6464 |
| _version_ | 1848745083243855872 |
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| author | Franzmann, Peter Heitz, Anna Wajon, Johannes |
| author_facet | Franzmann, Peter Heitz, Anna Wajon, Johannes |
| author_sort | Franzmann, Peter |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Water distributed from the Wanneroo Groundwater Treatment Plant intermittently containsdimethyl trisulphide (DMTS). The compound is responsible for a "swampy odour" in the water. DMTS production from potential precursors was insignificant in the absence of biofilms when compared with DMTS production from precursors in the presence of biofilms in a biofilm reactor. Greatest dimethyl disulphide (DMDS) and DMTS production (> 3000 ng L-1 DMTS) occurred in the reactors when supplied with methane thio-containing compounds, such as methionine, S-methyl cysteine andmethyl-3-(methylmercapto)-propionate. Abiotic DMTS production from oligosulphides also occurredthrough the addition of the methylating agents, methyl iodide or methyl-p-toluene sulphonate. Significant DMTS production also occurred with Wanneroo water that contained added w-thio-containing compounds such as cysteine (1400 ngL-1 DMTS), and 3-mercapto propionate (210 ngL-1). Biomethylation, a ubiquitous response by microorganisms for the detoxification of toxic compounds, generated DMDS/TS from biofilm oligosulphides. Biofilms exposed to the toxic compounds selenate or 2,4,6- trichlorophenol methylated oligosulphides in addition to the toxins. Sodium sulphide also stimulated DMTS production. Easily Biodegradable Dissolved Organic Carbon (BDOC) probably contributed indirectly to DMTS production by the biofilms, although whether this was a result of its stimulation of greater microbial activity or consumption of oxygen, or both, remains unresolved. Stagnation of water in the biofilm reactors also increased DMTS production, which was concomitant with depletion of oxygen concentrations in the bulk water. Many processes, such as degradation of methane thio-containing compounds, methylation of sulphides and oligosulphides, and changes in contributions of different metabolic pathways upon depletion of oxygen concentrations upon water stagnation, probably contribute simultaneously to "swampy odour" production in the distribution system. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:11:43Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-6464 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:11:43Z |
| publishDate | 2001 |
| publisher | Elsevier Science Ltd |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-64642017-09-13T16:06:54Z The formation of malodorous dimethyl oligosulphides in treated groundwater: the role of biofilms and potential precursors. Franzmann, Peter Heitz, Anna Wajon, Johannes groundwater biofilms DMDS DMTS odour drinking water dimethyl oligosulphides Water distributed from the Wanneroo Groundwater Treatment Plant intermittently containsdimethyl trisulphide (DMTS). The compound is responsible for a "swampy odour" in the water. DMTS production from potential precursors was insignificant in the absence of biofilms when compared with DMTS production from precursors in the presence of biofilms in a biofilm reactor. Greatest dimethyl disulphide (DMDS) and DMTS production (> 3000 ng L-1 DMTS) occurred in the reactors when supplied with methane thio-containing compounds, such as methionine, S-methyl cysteine andmethyl-3-(methylmercapto)-propionate. Abiotic DMTS production from oligosulphides also occurredthrough the addition of the methylating agents, methyl iodide or methyl-p-toluene sulphonate. Significant DMTS production also occurred with Wanneroo water that contained added w-thio-containing compounds such as cysteine (1400 ngL-1 DMTS), and 3-mercapto propionate (210 ngL-1). Biomethylation, a ubiquitous response by microorganisms for the detoxification of toxic compounds, generated DMDS/TS from biofilm oligosulphides. Biofilms exposed to the toxic compounds selenate or 2,4,6- trichlorophenol methylated oligosulphides in addition to the toxins. Sodium sulphide also stimulated DMTS production. Easily Biodegradable Dissolved Organic Carbon (BDOC) probably contributed indirectly to DMTS production by the biofilms, although whether this was a result of its stimulation of greater microbial activity or consumption of oxygen, or both, remains unresolved. Stagnation of water in the biofilm reactors also increased DMTS production, which was concomitant with depletion of oxygen concentrations in the bulk water. Many processes, such as degradation of methane thio-containing compounds, methylation of sulphides and oligosulphides, and changes in contributions of different metabolic pathways upon depletion of oxygen concentrations upon water stagnation, probably contribute simultaneously to "swampy odour" production in the distribution system. 2001 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/6464 10.1016/S0043-1354(00)00425-5 Elsevier Science Ltd restricted |
| spellingShingle | groundwater biofilms DMDS DMTS odour drinking water dimethyl oligosulphides Franzmann, Peter Heitz, Anna Wajon, Johannes The formation of malodorous dimethyl oligosulphides in treated groundwater: the role of biofilms and potential precursors. |
| title | The formation of malodorous dimethyl oligosulphides in treated groundwater: the role of biofilms and potential precursors. |
| title_full | The formation of malodorous dimethyl oligosulphides in treated groundwater: the role of biofilms and potential precursors. |
| title_fullStr | The formation of malodorous dimethyl oligosulphides in treated groundwater: the role of biofilms and potential precursors. |
| title_full_unstemmed | The formation of malodorous dimethyl oligosulphides in treated groundwater: the role of biofilms and potential precursors. |
| title_short | The formation of malodorous dimethyl oligosulphides in treated groundwater: the role of biofilms and potential precursors. |
| title_sort | formation of malodorous dimethyl oligosulphides in treated groundwater: the role of biofilms and potential precursors. |
| topic | groundwater biofilms DMDS DMTS odour drinking water dimethyl oligosulphides |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/6464 |