Performance characterization of a model bioreactor for the biodegradation of trichloroethylene by Pseudomonas cepacia G4

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5426960

Folsom, B R ^[1]; Chapman, P J ^[2]

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1. Technical Resources, Inc., Gulf Breeze, FL (USA)
2. Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, FL (USA)

Pseudomonas cepacia G4 grown in chemostats with phenol demonstrated constant specific degradation rates for both phenol and trichloroethylene (TCE) over a range of dilution rates. Washout of cells from chemostats was evident at a dilution rate of 0.2 h{sup {minus}1} at 28C. Increased phenol concentrations in the nutrient feed led to increased biomass production with constant specific degradation rates for both phenol and TCE. The addition of lactate to the phenol feed led to increased biomass production but lowered specific phenol and TCE degradations rates. The maximum potential for TCE degradation was about 1.1 g per day per g of cell protein. Cell growth and degradation kinetic parameters were used in the design of a recirculating bioreactor for TCE degradation. In this reactor, the total amount of TCE degraded increased as either reaction time or biomass was increased. TCE degradation was observed up to 300 {mu}M TCE with no significant decreases in rates. On the average, this reactor was able to degrade 0.7 g of TCE per day per g of cell protein. These results demonstrate the feasibility of TCE bioremediation through the use of bioreactors.

• OSTI ID: 5426960
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States), Journal Name: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (United States) Vol. 57:6; ISSN 0099-2240; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090900* -- Biomass Fuels-- Processing-- (1990-)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540310 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
AROMATICS
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
BIOREACTORS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
DECOMPOSITION
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
METABOLISM
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
PHENOLS
PSEUDOMONAS