Trichloroethylene biodegradation by a methane-oxidizing bacterium

Trichloroethylene (TCE), a common groundwater contaminant, is a suspected carcinogen that is highly resistant to aerobic biodegradation. An aerobic, methane-oxidizing bacterium was isolated that degrades TCE in pure culture at concentrations commonly observed in contaminated groundwater. Strain 46-1...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Applied and Environmental Microbiology Vol. 54; no. 4; pp. 951 - 956
Main Authors:	Little, C.D, Palumbo, A.V, Herbes, S.E, Lidstrom, M.E, Tyndall, R.L, Gilmer, P.J
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 01-04-1988
Subjects:	AGUAS SUBTERRANEAS Applied Environmental and Public Health Microbiology bacteria biodegradation Biological and medical sciences Biotechnology COMPOSE ORGANOCHLORE COMPUESTO ORGANICO DEL CLORO CONTAMINACION DEL AGUA DEGRADATION DETERIORO EAU SOUTERRAINE Environment and pollution Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects methane METHANOBACTERIACEAE Miscellaneous POLLUTION DE L'EAU trichloroethylene Biodegradation Metabolic intermediate Methanotrophy Radiolabelling Pollutant behavior Aerobe Methylotrophy Aquatic environment Organic solvent Alkene Organochlorine compounds Chlorocarbon Bacteria Isolate Ground water Ethylene(trichloro)
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Summary:	Trichloroethylene (TCE), a common groundwater contaminant, is a suspected carcinogen that is highly resistant to aerobic biodegradation. An aerobic, methane-oxidizing bacterium was isolated that degrades TCE in pure culture at concentrations commonly observed in contaminated groundwater. Strain 46-1, a type I methanotrophic bacterium, degraded TCE if grown on methane or methanol, producing CO2 and water-soluble products. Gas chromatography and 14C radiotracer techniques were used to determine the rate, methane dependence, and mechanism of TCE biodegradation. TCE biodegradation by strain 46-1 appears to be a cometabolic process that occurs when the organism is activity metabolizing a suitable growth substrate such as methane or methanol. It is proposed that TCE biodegradation by methanotrophs occurs by formation of TCE epoxide, which breaks down spontaneously in water to form dichloroacetic and glyoxylic acids and one-carbon products
Bibliography:	T01 8852044 ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23 Corresponding author. Publication no. 3075 of the Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
ISSN:	0099-2240 1098-5336
DOI:	10.1128/aem.54.4.951-956.1988