Biological reductive dechlorination of tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene to ethylene under methanogenic conditions
- Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)
A biological process for remediation of groundwater contaminated with tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) can only be applied if the transformation products are environmentally acceptable. Studies with enrichment cultures of PCE- and TCE-degrading microorganisms provide evidence that, under methanogenic conditions, mixed cultures are able to completely dechlorinate PCE and TCE to ethylene, a product which is environmentally acceptable. Radiotracer studies with ({sup 14}C)PCE indicated that ({sup 14}C)ethylene was the terminal product; significant conversion to {sup 14}CO{sub 2} or {sup 14}CH{sub 4} was not observed. The rate-limiting step in the pathway appeared to be conversion of vinyl chloride to ethylene. To sustain reductive dechlorination of PCE and TCE, it was necessary to supply an electron donor; methanol was the most effective, although hydrogen, formate, acetate, and glucose also served. Studies with the inhibitor 2-bromoethanesulfonate suggested that methanogens played a key role in the observed biotransformations of PCE and TCE.
- OSTI ID:
- 5222825
- Journal Information:
- Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (USA), Journal Name: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (USA) Vol. 55:9; ISSN 0099-2240; ISSN AEMID
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKENES
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
DECOMPOSITION
ELECTRON TRANSFER
ETHYLENE
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCARBONS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SYNTHESIS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
WATER POLLUTION