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Cometabolism of trichloroethylene: concepts, limitations and available strategies for sustained biodegradation

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Abstract

Due to its toxicity and persistence in the environment, trichloroethylene (TCE) has become a major soil and groundwater contaminant in many countries. A group of aliphatic- and aromatic-degrading bacteria expressing nonspecific oxygenases have been reported to transform TCE through aerobic cometabolism in the presence of primary substrate such as methane, ammonia, propane, phenol, toluene or cumene. This paper reviews the fundamentals and results of TCE cometabolism from laboratory and field studies. The limitations associated with TCE cometabolism including the causes and effects of substrate and/or inducer utilization rate and depletion, enzyme inhibition and inactivation, and cytotoxicity during TCE oxidation among various TCE-degrading bacteria and enzymes are discussed. In addition, the potential strategies e.g. addition of primary substrate/inducer or external energy substrate, use of a two-stage reactor and application of cell immobilization for sustained TCE degradation are highlighted. The review summarizes important information on TCE cometabolism, which is necessary for developing efficient TCE bioremediation approaches.

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Abbreviations

TCE:

Trichloroethylene

BMOs:

Butane monooxygenases

MMO:

Methane monooxygenase

TDO:

Toluene dioxygenase

DNAPL:

Dense non-aqueous phase liquid

Ind:

Inducer and/or primary substrate

NADH:

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide

T c :

TCE transformation capacity

K m :

Concentration of substrate that leads to half-maximal velocity

K i :

Dissociation constant for the enzyme inhibitor complex

K s :

Michaelis constant values for cellular kinetics

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Biotechnology Research Unit, Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand

    Oramas Suttinun

  2. Center of Excellence for Environmental and Hazardous Waste Management (EHWM), Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Oramas Suttinun

  3. Bioremediation Research Unit, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Ekawan Luepromchai

  4. Institute of Technical Biocatalysis, Technical University Hamburg-Harburg, Denickestrasse 15, 21071, Hamburg, Germany

    Rudolf Müller

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  1. Oramas Suttinun
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  2. Ekawan Luepromchai
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  3. Rudolf Müller
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Correspondence to Oramas Suttinun.

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Suttinun, O., Luepromchai, E. & Müller, R. Cometabolism of trichloroethylene: concepts, limitations and available strategies for sustained biodegradation. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol 12, 99–114 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-012-9291-x

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