Kinetics of chlorinated ethylene dehalogenation under methanogenic conditions

Methanosarcina spp. drive vinyl chloride dechlorination via interspecies hydrogen transfer

Two highly enriched cultures containing Dehalococcoides spp. were used to study the effect of aceticlastic methanogens on reductive vinyl chloride (VC) dechlorination. In terms of aceticlastic methanogens, one culture was dominated by Methanosaeta, while the other culture was dominated by Methanosarcina, as determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Cultures amended with 2-bromoethanesulfonate (BES), an efficient inhibitor of methanogens, exhibited slow VC dechlorination when grown on acetate and VC. Methanogenic cultures dominated by Methanosaeta had no impact on dechlorination rates, compared to BES-amended controls. In contrast, methanogenic cultures dominated by Methanosarcina displayed up to sevenfold-higher rates of VC dechlorination than their BES-amended counterparts. Methanosarcina-dominated cultures converted a higher percentage of [2-(14)C]acetate to (14)CO(2) when concomitant VC dechlorination took place, compared to nondechlorinating controls. Respiratory indices increased from 0.12 in nondechlorinating cultures to 0.51 in actively dechlorinating cultures. During VC dechlorination, aqueous hydrogen (H(2)) concentrations dropped to 0.3 to 0.5 nM. However, upon complete VC consumption, H(2) levels increased by a factor of 10 to 100, indicating active hydrogen production from acetate oxidation. This process was thermodynamically favorable by means of the extremely low H(2) levels during dechlorination. VC degradation in nonmethanogenic cultures was not inhibited by BES but was limited by the availability of H(2) as electron donor, in cultures both with and without BES. These findings all indicate that Methanosarcina (but not Methanosaeta), while cleaving acetate to methane, simultaneously oxidizes acetate to CO(2) plus H(2), driving hydrogenotrophic dehalorespiration of VC to ethene by Dehalococcoides.

Dynamics of reductive TCE dechlorination in two distinct H2 supply scenarios and at various temperatures

Anaerobic microbial dechlorination of trichloroethene (TCE) by a mixed, Dehalococcoides containing culture was investigated at different temperatures (4-60 degrees C) using propionate and lactate as a slow- and fast-releasing hydrogen (H(2)) source, respectively. Distinct temperature-dependent dynamics of substrate fermentation and H(2) levels could explain observed patterns of dechlorination. While varying the temperature caused changes in rate, the overall pattern of dechlorination was characteristic of the supplied electron donor. Feeding cultures with a rapidly fermentable substrate such as lactate generally resulted in high H(2) concentrations and fast and complete dechlorination accompanied by rapid methanogenesis. In contrast, low H(2) release rates resulting from fermentation of propionate were associated with 2 to 3-fold longer time frames necessary for complete dechlorination at intermediate temperatures (15-30 degrees C). A lag-phase prior to dechlorination of cis-dichloroethene (cDCE), together with a characteristic build-up of H(2) and methane, was consistently observed at slow H(2) supply. At temperatures of 10 degrees C and lower, the system remained in this lag phase and no dechlorination past cDCE was observed within the experimental time frame. However, when lactate was the substrate, complete dechlorination of TCE occurred within 74 days at 10 degrees C, accompanied by methane production. The choice of fermentable substrate decisively influenced the rate and degree of dechlorination at an electron donor/TCE ratio as high as 666:1. Temperature-dependent H(2) levels resulting from fermentation of different substrates could be satisfactorily explained through thermodynamic calculations of the Gibbs free energy yield assuming a constant metabolic energy threshold of -20 kJ/(mol reaction).

1,1-dichloroethene as a predominant intermediate of microbial trichloroethene reduction

A microbial culture derived from a landfill site in Dover, DE consistently reduced trichloroethene (TCE) to ethene through 1,1-dichloroethene (DCE) as a dominant intermediate in the presence of ampicillin. A constant 1,1-DCE-to-cis-DCE ratio of 2.4 +/- 0.3 was observed for more than two years, while trans-DCE was never detected. Without ampicillin, however, TCE was reduced to ethene almost exclusively through cis-DCE, suggesting that the culture contained at leasttwo TCE-dechlorinating populations. Two subcultures, which were established using 1,1-DCE or vinyl chloride as an electron acceptor, exhibited the same 1,1-DCE-to-cis-DCE ratio when TCE was introduced. PCR amplification of 16S rRNA gene followed by sequencing and DGGE analysis indicate that these (sub)cultures contained a Dehalococcoides population(s). TCE dechlorination assays with crude cell extract showed a DCE distribution pattern similar to that with whole cells. The enzyme involved in 1,1-DCE formation was likely a cobalt corrinoid enzyme, as suggested by the inhibitory effect of CH3I and photoreversibility of the inhibition. This study provides a possible biological mechanism forthe occurrence of 1,1-DCE in TCE-contaminated sites.

Reductive biotransformation of tetrachloroethene to ethene during anaerobic degradation of toluene: experimental evidence and kinetics

Reductive biotransformation of tetrachloroethene (PCE) to ethene occurred during anaerobic degradation of toluene in an enrichment culture. Ethene was detected as a dominant daughter product of PCE dechlorination with negligible accumulation of other partially chlorinated ethenes. PCE dechlorination was linked to toluene degradation, as evidenced by the findings that PCE dechlorination was limited in the absence of toluene but was restored with a spike of toluene again in the cultures. PCE was effectively dechlorinated in cultures amended with a wide range of concentrations of PCE and toluene. PCE dechlorination can be described by a Monod-like equation but followed a zero-order kinetic at high levels of PCE. In addition to toluene, benzoate and lactate were also able to be used as sole electron donors for reductive dechlorination of PCE in the cultures. In terms of dechlorination rates, lactate was the best electron donor followed by benzoate and then toluene. The kinetic characteristics of PCE dechlorination were retained in the cultures regardless of electron donors used, but the kinetic constant values were unique to each electron donor. The dechlorination rate was found to be closely correlated with the level of H2 produced during fermentation of the three organic compounds. Nitrate and sulfate were observed to be favorable electron acceptors in this culture, and their presence completely blocked electron flow to PCE. However, the presence of nitrate and sulfate did not destroy the capability of PCE dechlorination by the culture. PCE dechlorination was immediately reestablished after depletion of nitrate and sulfate in the culture. This anaerobic process provides an opportunity for concurrent remediation of chlorinated solvents and certain fuel hydrocarbons, and recognition of this process is also important in understanding the subsurface fate and transport of these contaminants under natural conditions.

Trichloroethylene degradation in a coupled anaerobic/aerobic reactor oxygenated using hydrogen peroxide

In this work, trichloroethylene (TCE) degradation under combined anaerobic-aerobic conditions was studied in an ethanol-fed biofilm reactor oxygenated using hydrogen peroxide. The reactor was inoculated with a biomass originating from an anaerobic digestor. Granulated peat was added to the reactor as a substratum for biofilm development. Extensive characterization of reactor populations using activity tests and PCR analysis revealed the development of a mutualistic consortium, particularly methanotrophic and methanogenic microorganisms. This consortium was shown to degrade TCE by a combination of reductive and oxidative pathways. A near complete degradation of TCE at a load of 18 mg L(R)(-1) day(-1) was evidenced by a stoichiometric release of inorganic chloride.

Constitutive dechlorination of chlorinated ethenes by a methanol degrading methanogenic consortium

The ability of granular methanogenic sludge to dechlorinate chloroethenes was investigated with unadapted sludge from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor fed with methanol. The sludge degraded chlorinated ethenes, but the degradation rates were low. The addition of primary substrate was necessary to sustain dechlorination. The dechlorinating activity seemed to be constitutively present in the anaerobic bacteria. Usually, one chlorine atom was removed via reductive hydrogenolysis. Only trichloroethene (TCE) was converted to substantial amounts of vinylchloride (VC). 1,1-Dichloroethene (1,1DCE) was observed to be an important intermediate in the dechlorination by unadapted granular sludge, although previously this compound had not been commonly observed. Furthermore, the dechlorination of 1,1DCE was faster than the dechlorination of the other chloroethenes.

New perspectives on microbial dehalogenation of chlorinated solvents: insights from the field

A variety of microbial dechlorination mechanisms have been demonstrated in laboratory microcosms, pure cultures, and in situ sedimentary environments. New perspectives on in situ processes from these efforts allow the design of more realistic bioremediation strategies that complement natural processes regardless of whether the strategy used is one of engineered accelerated bioremediation or natural attenuation. Since 1994 the scientific community has acquired considerable knowledge regarding natural attenuation of organochlorine compounds. Natural attenuation of chlorinated solvents has been documented at a number of field sites. Reductive dechlorination driven by co-contaminants or naturally occurring organics as substrates in combination with aerobic or co-metabolic degradation contains certain chlorinated solvent plumes. Although natural attenuation is not a panacea, at sites where it is applicable, it offers a scientifically sound, cost-effective method to remediate groundwater contaminated with chlorinated solvents.