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Enhanced dechlorination of chloroethenes by granular sludge under microaerophilic conditions

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Abstract

This study investigates an innovative dechlorination process using anaerobic granular sludge that was partially exposed to oxygen. The exposure supported a synchronously anaerobic and aerobic bioconversion process that combined reductive dechlorination with aerobic co-oxidation in a sludge granule. Experimental results showed that the highest dechlorination rates of tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, cis-dichloroethene and vinyl chloride were 6.44, 2.98, 1.70 and 0.97 nmol/gVS  day, at initial O2 concentrations of 10, 100, 5 and 0%, respectively. Strictly anaerobic conditions favored the dechlorination of vinyl chloride while absolutely aerobic conditions were preferred for trichloroethene dechlorination. Microaerophilic conditions are suggested to ensure the overall biodegradation of the chlorinated ethenes present in groundwater as a mixture.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this study was provided by the National Science Council, Taiwan, under Project No. NSC 92-2313-B-241-005. Part of the batch work described in this study was financially supported by the grant HKHSC-91-02.

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Correspondence to Ching-Shyung Hwu.

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Hwu, CS., Lu, CJ. Enhanced dechlorination of chloroethenes by granular sludge under microaerophilic conditions. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 22, 841–844 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-005-9112-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-005-9112-2

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