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Characterization of an H{sub 2}-utilizing enrichment culture that reductivity dechlorinates tetrachloroethene to vinyl chloride and ethene in the absence of methanogenesis and acetogenesis

Journal Article · · Applied and Environmental Microbiology
OSTI ID:209979
; ;  [1]
  1. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States); and others

We have been studying an anaerobic enrichment culture which, by using methanol as an electron donor, dechlorinates tetrachloroethene (PCE) to vinyl chloride and ethene. Our previous results indicated that H{sub 2} was the direct electron donor for reductive dechlorination of PCE by the methanol-PCE culture. Most-probable-number counts performed on this culture indicated low numbers ({le}10{sup 4}/ml) of sulfidogens, methanol-utilizing acetogens, fermentative heterotrophs, and PCE dechlorinators using H{sub 2}{center_dot}-PCE culture used PCE at increasing rates over time when transferred to fresh medium and could be transferred indefinitely with H{sub 2} as the electron donor-acceptor pair for energy conservation growth. Sustained PCE dechlorination by this culture was supported by supplementation with 0.05 mg of vitamin B{sub 12} per liter, 25% (vol/vol) anaerobic digestor sludge supernatant,and 2 mM acetate, which presumably served as a carbon source. Neither methanol nor acetate could serve as an electron donor for dechlorination by the H{sub 2}-PCE culture, and it did not produce CH{sub 4} or acetate from H{sub 2}-CO{sub 2} or methanol, indicating the absense of methanogenic and acetogenic bacteria. Microscopic observations of the purified H{sub 2}-PCE culture showed only two major morphotypes: irregular cocci and small rods. 31 refs., 6 figs., 2 tabs.

OSTI ID:
209979
Journal Information:
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Journal Name: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 61; ISSN AEMIDF; ISSN 0099-2240
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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