tBI facultY

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BIofIlm technoloGY and BIoremedIatIon

dr. roBIn Gerlach associate Professor department of chemical and Biological engineering 406.994.1840 robin_g@coe.montana.edu

current research my research focuses on the development of biofilm technologies for beneficial purposes. Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms that develop through the attachment of free-floating bacteria onto surfaces (figure 1). the attached organisms begin to form structurally and metabolically complex microbial communities that propagate themselves via detachment of bacterial cells back into the bulk fluid. Biofilm microorganisms are often enmeshed in extracellular polymeric substances (ePs) that commonly consist of complex polysaccharides. Biofilms form on virtually any surface that is exposed to water and microorganisms: rocks in streambeds, ship hulls, water distribution pipes, teeth, internal medical devices, etc. Biofilms also often develop natural gradients in substrates, electron acceptor concentration, ph, and other parameters. therefore, biofilms have the potential to provide the diverse environmental conditions required for the complete transformation of recalcitrant compounds such as environmental contaminants or cellulose. the close association of organisms with a wide range of metabolic capabilities in biofilms can allow for fast metabolite exchange and can provide increased protection of the biofilm organisms. hence, biofilm-based technologies have the potential to be significantly more robust and efficient than traditionally developed biotechnologies. Biofilms thriving under extreme conditions (e.g. high temperature, high/low ph, high salt concentration) have been discovered in several places around the world. Yellowstone national Park provides an exceptional environment to be explored for microorganisms with unique metabolism that can ultimately lead to the development of environmentally

sustainable technologies. current specific research areas and prospective technologies associated with the research are summarized below: subsurface Biofilm Barriers can be used to manipulate the hydraulic conductivity (permeability) of subsurface formations enabling us to decrease or direct the flow of groundwater. therefore, we are investigating the hydrodynamics in biofilm affected porous media in the laboratory using different reactors and analytical techniques. By improving our ability to transport bacteria and nutrients in the subsurface and designing biofilm barriers to be reactive (e.g. contaminant degrading) or non-reactive (simply for hydraulic control) we are intending to improve existing subsurface bioremediation technologies. we are investigating the transformation of nitroaromatics (e.g. the explosive tnt - 2,4,6trinitrotoluene), chlorinated aliphatic compounds (e.g. trichloroethylene tce and carbon tetrachloride ct), heavy metals (e.g. chromate and dichromate), and radionuclides (e.g. uranium). the influence of natural organic matter, minerals, and co-contaminants is of specific interest to my research as well as the establishment of biogeochemical conditions (ph, redox potential, oxygen concentration, etc.) ideal for the safe removal of these contaminants from contaminated groundwater or immobilization in contaminated soils. current laBoratorY Personnel erin field, Ph.d. student laura Jennings, visiting Ph.d. student from cornell univ. ayrat Ziganshin, visiting fulbright Ph.d. student

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thermal Biology Institute at montana state university | www.tbi.montana.edu

from koszan university in russia Peter haun, undergraduate student logan schultz, undergraduate student howard christiansen, research associate adrienne Phillips, research engineer laura Boegli, laboratory technician rePresentatIve PuBlIcatIons from the Gerlach laB Borch t., Inskeep w.P., harwood J.a., Gerlach R. Impact of ferrihydrite and anthraquinone-2,6disulfonate on the reductive transformation of 2,4,6trinitrotoluene by a grampositive fermenting bacterium. environ sci technol. 39 (18):7126-33 (2005) seymour J.d., Gage J.P., codd s.l., Gerlach R. anomalous fluid transport in Porous media Induced by Biofilm Growth. Physical review letters. 93, 19:8101-8104 (2004) Borch t., Gerlach R. use of reversed Phase highPerformance liquid chromatography-diode array detection for complete separation of 2,4,6 trinitrotoluene metabolites and ePa method 8330 explosives: Influence of column temperature and Ion-Pair reagent. Journal of chromatography a. 1022:83-94 (2004) Bouwer e.J., rijnaarts h.h.m., cunningham a.B., Gerlach R. Biofilms in Porous media. In Bryers, J.d. (ed.): Biofilms II: Process analysis and applications. wiley-liss, Inc. pp. 123-158 (2000)

Gerlach R., cunningham a.B., caccabo f. Jr. dissimilatory Iron-reducing Bacteria Influence the Performance of Zero-valent Iron. environmental science and technology. 34:2461-2464 (2000)
Top: (left to right) Logan Schultz, Peter Haun, Laura Jennings, Adrienne Phillips, Robin Gerlach, Erin Field, Laura Boegli. Not pictured: Ayrat Ziganshin and Howard Christiansen. Bottom: Figure1. Conceptual illustration of the biofilm life cycle (foreground); the metabolic and chemical heterogeneity within biofilms (middle); and physicochemical features such as streamer formation and detachment of single cells and biofilm cells embedded in EPS (extracellular polymeric substances). The EPS (indicated in light brown) is produced by the biofilm organisms and provides structural support for the biofilm.

III. tBI faculty

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