Biological Degradation of Tetrachloroethylene in Methanogenic Conditions
Abstract
Research objective: investigate anaerobic biodegradation of perchloroethylene (PCE). Specific objectives: determine if the presence of PCE is necessary to sustain dechlorination of vinyl chloride (VC), delineate the role of hydrogen (H2) in PCE reductive dechlorination, investigate the ability of the high level PCE/methanol (MeOH) culture to utilize low levels of PCE, and determine the applicability of an Anaerobic Attached-film Expanded-bed (AAFEB) reactor to achieve PCE dechlorination. The investigators determined: by using a VC-fed culture unable to sustain ETH production, that the presence of PCE is required to sustain VC dechlorination, H2 acts as the electron donor directly used for the reductive dechlorination of PCE to ethene, the PCE/MeOH culture was able to use ppb levels of PCE due to the small requirement for electron donor (H2) by the culture, and that the loss of the dechlorinating biomass from the support matrix, and/or the inability of the culture to support PCE dechlorination at low concentrations, led to the failure of the AAFEB reactor system. Biodegradation, Tetrachloroethylene, Methanogenesis, Fixed-film reactors, Biological treatment, Chlorinated hydrocarbons
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA283236
Entities
People
- James M. Gossett
- Michael A. Stover
- Thomas D. Distefano
Organizations
- Cornell University