Abstract
A methanogenic mixed population in a packed-bed reactor completely transformed 1,1,1-trichloroethane (10 μM) to chloroethane by a cometabolic process. Chloroethane was not further transformed. Acetate and methanol served as electron donors. Complete transformation of 1,1,1-trichloroethane to chloroethane only occurred when sufficient electron donor was fed into the reactor. Otherwise, besides chloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethane was also found as a product. The products of 1,1,1-trichloroethane transformation also depended on the type of electron donor present. With acetate, the degree of dechlorination was higher, i.e. more 1,1,1-trichloroethane was transformed to chloroethane than with methanol. In an enrichment culture obtained from the reactor contents, 1,1,1-trichloroethane was only transformed to 1,1-dichloroethane and was not further metabolized. Methanol, acetate, formate, ethanol, 2-propanol, trimethylamine and H2, but not dimethylamine and methylamine, served as electron donors for 1,1,1-trichloroethane transformation by this enrichment culture. Both nitrate and nitrite inhibited 1,1,1-trichloroethane transformation; while nitrate completely inhibited 1,1,1-trichloroethane dechlorination, some conversion did occur in the presence of nitrite. The product(s) of this conversion remain unknown, since no chlorinated hydrocarbons were detected.
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Received: 19 June 1998 / Received revision: 14 September 1998 / Accepted: 17 September 1998
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de Best, J., Hage, A., Doddema, H. et al. Complete transformation of 1,1,1-trichloroethane to chloroethane by a methanogenic mixed population. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 51, 277–283 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530051393
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530051393