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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Yang
Qi
Q
School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China.
Shang
Hai-Tao
HT
Wang
Xue-Lian
XL
Li
Hui-Di
HD
Wang
Jian-Long
JL