Biodegradation of tetrachlorothylene using methanol as co-metabolic substrate.

Objective: To investigate the biodegradation of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) using methanol as electron donor by acclimated anaerobic sludge.

Methods: HP-6890 gas chromatograph (GC), together with HP-7694 autosampler, was used to analyze the concentration of PCE and intermediates.

Results: PCE could be decholrinated reductively to DCE via TCE, and probably further to VC and ethylene. The degradation of PCE and TCE conformed to first-order reaction kinetics. The reaction rate constants were 0.8991 d(-1) and 0.068 d(-1), respectively, and the corresponding half-life were 0.77 d and 10.19 d, respectively. TCE production rate constant was 0.1333 d(-1), showing that PCE was degraded more rapidly than TCE.

Conclusion: Methanol is an electron donor suitable for PCE degradation and the cometabolic electron donors are not limiting factors for PCE degradation.