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A cometabolic biotransformation model for halogenated aliphatic compounds exhibiting product toxicity

Journal Article · · Environmental Science and Technology; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00020a003· OSTI ID:5449279
 [1];  [2]
  1. Univ. of California, Berkeley (United States)
  2. Stanford Univ., CA (United States)

A model is proposed to describe the rate and extent of cometabolic transformation of halogenated aliphatic compounds by resting microbial cells. The finite transformation capacity ({Tc}) of resting cells, which appears to be associated with cometabolic oxidation of many halogenated aliphatic compounds, is used to incorporate the effects of product toxicity and reductant supply into a modified expression of Monod kinetics. Applicability of the model of trichloroethylene transformation by resting cells from a mixed methanotrophic culture is evaluated by comparison with experimental data from batch transformation studies conducted over a range of conditions. A visually good and statistically reasonable fit was obtained between the experimental data and model predictions both with cells alone and with formate added as an exogenous reductant source. A comparison of parameter estimates (k and K{sub s}) derived by use of the cometabolic transformation model and those derived by use of conventional linearized Monod techniques (Lineweaver-Burk and concentration-normalized equations) indicates that, for reactions involving a finite transformation capacity, the linearized Monod equations yield artificially elevated parameters estimates.

OSTI ID:
5449279
Journal Information:
Environmental Science and Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States) Vol. 25:8; ISSN ESTHA; ISSN 0013-936X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English