Abstract
Sulfate reduction (SR) and trichloroethylene (TCE) biodegradation at two different temperatures (37 and 70°C) were investigated in enrichment cultures prepared with two different samples of sediments collected from hydrothermal vents. The unadapted sediments were incubated with sulfate (4gL−1) as the electron acceptor before TCE addition to enrich them in biomass and to establish a constant sulfate reduction (SR, 87% sulfate conversion and specific H2S concentration of 90.81±8.19mgH2SgVSS−1), afterwards TCE was added at an initial concentration of 300μmolL−1. The best results for TCE biodegradation were obtained at 37°C. At this temperature, SR was up to 92%, whereas TCE biodegradation reached 75% and ethane was detected as the main degradation product. Under thermophilic conditions (70°C) TCE biodegradation reached up to approximately 60% and the SR was 30% in 30 days of incubation with the chlorinated solvent. Along with these results, the 16S rDNA analysis from samples at 37°C showed the presence of bacteria belonging to the genera: Clostridium, Bacillus and Desulfuromonas. The overall results on TCE degradation and SR suggest that cometabolic TCE degradation is carried out by sulfate or sulfur reducers and fermentative bacteria at mesophilic conditions.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
