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Title: Chlorinated ethene half-velocity coefficients (K{sub s}) for reductive dehalogenation

Journal Article · · Environmental Science and Technology
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es9805876· OSTI ID:318710
;  [1]
  1. Stanford Univ., CA (United States). Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Biological reduction of the chlorinated solvents tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE) completely to ethene is of interest for engineered or intrinsic destruction of these prevalent groundwater contaminants. However, the transformation are frequently not complete, leading to the production of vinyl chloride (VC), a more hazardous compound. Factors affecting the relative rates of destruction of the solvents and their intermediate products are thus of interest. The maximum degradation rates (kX) and half-velocity coefficients (K{sub s}) for these chlorinated ethenes used as electron acceptors in reductive dehalogenation with hydrogen in excess were examined using an enrichment culture grown on benzoate, hydrogen, and PCE. Initial dehalogenation rates were measured at various chlorinated ethene concentrations in batch studies. With 38 mg/L volatile suspended solids of this culture, the kX and 95% confidence intervals for PCE, TCE, cis-dichloroethene (cDCE), and VC at 25 C were found to be 77 {+-} 5.59 {+-} 11, 14 {+-} 3, and 13 {+-} 3 {micro}M/day with K{sub s} values of 0.11 {+-} 0.04, 1.4 {+-} 0.9, 3.3 {+-} 2.2, and 2.6 {+-} 1.9 {micro}M, respectively. The lower maximum transformation rates and higher K{sub s} values for cDCE and VC partly explain why incomplete transformation of PCE and TCE often occurs in the field.

Sponsoring Organization:
Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (United States); USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
FG07-96ER62300
OSTI ID:
318710
Journal Information:
Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 33, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: 15 Jan 1999
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English