Methanotrophic TCE Biodegradation in a Multi-Stage Bioreactor

Abstract

A two-stage bioreactor system was continuously fed a solution of TCE (concentrations ranging between 0.2 and 20 mg L{sup -1}) at 2 mL min{sup -1}; the system utilized a mutant (PP358) of the methane oxidizing bacterium Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b for the fortuitous cooxidation of TCE by the enzyme-soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO). A methane-free environment was maintained in the TCE treatment portion of the reactor (plug-flow columns), minimizing the effects of competitive inhibition between TCE and methane for the sMMO. The reactor was operated in two separate flow configurations, single-pass and cross-flow, with TCE removal percentages exceeding 78% (for a TCE feed concentration of 20 mg L{sup -1}) and 93% (for a TCE feed concentration of 10 mg L{sup -1}), respectively. A r{sub max} of 109.4 mg of TCE (g of VS){sup -1} d{sup -1} for a TCE feed concentration of 20 mg L{sup -1} was obtained, suggesting that high rates of degradation occurred within the reactor. TCE-induced toxicity effects occurred at TCE feed concentrations of 10 mg L{sup -1} and greater, resulting in declines of the biomass concentrations and the enzyme activities. A model describing the rate of TCE degradation in the plug-flow columns was proposed by Alvarez-Cohen et al.more » and was modified to incorporate the suboptimal activities of sMMO. 29 refs., 7 figs., 1 tab.« less