Toxicity comparison of three imidazolium bromide ionic liquids to soil microorganisms

Chao Cheng; Junchao Ma; Jinhua Wang; Zhongkun Du; Bing Li; Jun Wang; Chong Gao; Lusheng Zhu

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113321

Toxicity comparison of three imidazolium bromide ionic liquids to soil microorganisms

Environ Pollut. 2019 Dec;255(Pt 2):113321. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113321. Epub 2019 Oct 5.

Authors

Chao Cheng¹, Junchao Ma², Jinhua Wang³, Zhongkun Du⁴, Bing Li⁵, Jun Wang⁶, Chong Gao⁷, Lusheng Zhu⁸

Affiliations

¹ College of Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Agriculture Environment in Universities of Shandong, National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, Shandong Province, China. Electronic address: ChengChao95@126.com.
² College of Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Agriculture Environment in Universities of Shandong, National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, Shandong Province, China. Electronic address: junchaoma93@163.com.
³ College of Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Agriculture Environment in Universities of Shandong, National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, Shandong Province, China. Electronic address: wjh@sdau.edu.cn.
⁴ College of Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Agriculture Environment in Universities of Shandong, National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, Shandong Province, China. Electronic address: dzk77@163.com.
⁵ College of Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Agriculture Environment in Universities of Shandong, National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, Shandong Province, China. Electronic address: libing201709@163.com.
⁶ College of Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Agriculture Environment in Universities of Shandong, National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, Shandong Province, China. Electronic address: jwang@sdau.edu.cn.
⁷ College of Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Agriculture Environment in Universities of Shandong, National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, Shandong Province, China. Electronic address: eti@sdau.edu.cn.
⁸ College of Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Agriculture Environment in Universities of Shandong, National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, Shandong Province, China. Electronic address: lushzhu@sdau.edu.cn.

PMID: 31610515
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113321

Abstract

Ionic liquids (ILs) are extensively used in several chemistry fields. And research about the effects of ILs on soil microbes is needed. In this study, brown soil was exposed to 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C₄mim]Br), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C₆mim]Br) and 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C₁₀mim]Br). The toxicities of the three ILs are evaluated by measuring the soil culturable microbial number, enzyme activity, microbial diversity and, abundance of the ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) genes of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA). Results showed that all tested ILs caused a decrease in culturable microbial abundance. Tested ILs exposure inhibit urease activity and promote acid phosphatase and β-glucosidase activities. Tested ILs reduced soil microbial diversity and the abundances of AOB-amoA and AOA-amoA genes significantly. After a comparison of the integrated biomarker response (IBR) index, the toxicities of tested ILs to soil microorganisms were as follows: [C₁₀mim]Br > [C₆mim]Br > [C₄mim]Br. Among all collected biomarkers, the abundance of the AOA-amoA gene was the most sensitive one and was easily affected after ILs exposure.

Keywords: Cultivable microbial abundance; Ionic liquids; Microbial diversity index; Soil enzyme; amoA.

MeSH terms

Acid Phosphatase / metabolism
Ammonia / metabolism
Archaea / drug effects*
Bacteria / drug effects*
Borates / toxicity*
Bromides / toxicity*
Glucosidases / metabolism
Imidazoles / toxicity*
Ionic Liquids / toxicity*
Oxidation-Reduction
Oxidoreductases / genetics
Phylogeny
Soil / chemistry
Soil Microbiology
Urease / antagonists & inhibitors

Substances

1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide
1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium
Borates
Bromides
Imidazoles
Ionic Liquids
Soil
1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride
Ammonia
Oxidoreductases
ammonia monooxygenase
Acid Phosphatase
Glucosidases
Urease