Compendium of technical papers on the reductive dechlorination of chlorinated solvents. Final report, August 1993--October 1996
This compendium of technical papers represents three years of work in the investigation of the anaerobic biodegradation of tetrachloroethylene (PCE). Cornell researchers had previously developed a methanol (MeOH)/PCE enrichment culture which dechlorinates high concentrations of PCE and other chlorinated ethenes to ethene (ETH), representing complete detoxification. This culture dechlorinates PCE at unprecedented, high rates with efficient use of MeOH as the electron donor for reductive dechlorination. However, research at Cornell showed that MeOH was not the direct donor for PCE dechlorination, but rather H{sub 2}. MeOH and other reductants found to support dechlorination merely serve as H{sub 2} precursors. Three alternative electron donors (ethanol, butyrate, and lactate) were evaluated to circumvent the problem of methanogenic competition for the supplied donor. The final selected substrate was used in a continuous-flow reactor study with the H{sub 2}/PCE enrichment culture. Engineering studies examined the kinetics of chlorinated ETH utilization with emphasis on vinyl chloride (VC) dechlorination to ETH. Acclimation and induction issues were explored. Microbiological studies towards a better understanding of the nature and the requirements of the dechlorinating organisms were explored. The nutrition of the dechlorinating organisms was examined with the goal of finding and identifying reliable high-potency sources if the nutrients.
- Research Organization:
- Cornell Univ., Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ithaca, NY (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 292065
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-354532/XAB; AFRL-ML-TR-1998-4536; TRN: 83420070
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Aug 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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