Anaerobic degradation of tetrachloroethylene using different co-substrates as electron donors.

Objective: To investigate the biodegradation of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) by acclimated anaerobic sludge using different co-substrates, i.e., glucose, acetate, and lactate as electron donors.

Methods: HP-6890 gas chromatograph (GC) in combination with auto-sampler was used to analyze the concentration of PCE and its intermediates. Results PCE could be degraded by reductive dechlorination and the degradation reaction conformed to the first-order kinetic equation. The rate constants are k(lactate) > k(glucose) > k(acetate). The PCE degradation rate was the highest in the presence of lactate as an electron donor.

Conclusion: Lactate is the most suitable electron donor for PCE degradation and the electron donors supplied by co-metabolic substrates are not the limiting factors for PCE degradation.