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Title: Carbon tetrachloride degradation: Effect of microbial growth substrate and vitamin B{sub 12} content

Journal Article · · Environmental Science and Technology
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es990930m· OSTI ID:20080516

Microbial degradation kinetics of carbon tetrachloride (CT) under reducing conditions were investigated for different cultures, fed with 1,2-propanediol, dextrose, propionalde-hyde, or acetate and nitrate, in the anaerobic step of an anaerobic/aerobic operation sequence. Methanogenesis was inhibited due to the aerobic step. CT biodegradation rates followed first-order kinetics with respect to CT concentration and biomass and were not affected by the presence of growth substrate. CT degradation rates increased linearly with higher intracellular vitamin B{sub 12} content. The culture fed 1,2-propanediol had the highest vitamin B{sub 12} content, which was 3.8, 4.7, and 16 times that of the propionaldehyde-,dextrose-, and acetate-fed cultures, respectively, and its first-order degradation rate constant was 2.8, 4.5, 6.0 times that for those cultures, respectively. No CT degradation occurred with culture liquid, suggesting that intracellular factors were responsible for CT degradation. The propanediol culture was able to sustain a constant CT degradation rate for a 16-day test period without substrate addition. Compared to a propanediol-fed culture grown only under anaerobic conditions, the propanediol culture grown under the sequential anaerobic/aerobic condition resulted in more biomass growth and a greater CT degradation rate per unit of propanediol fed, although its CT degradation rate per unit of biomass was lower.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
FC01-95EW55084
OSTI ID:
20080516
Journal Information:
Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 34, Issue 9; Other Information: PBD: 1 May 2000; ISSN 0013-936X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English