title: Aerobic biodegradation of trichloroethene without auxiliary substrates.
abstract: Trichloroethene (TCE) represents a priority pollutant and is among the most frequently detected contaminants in groundwater. The current bioremediation measures have certain drawbacks like e.g. the need for auxiliary substrates. Here, the aerobic biodegradation of TCE as the sole growth substrate is demonstrated. This new process of metabolic TCE degradation was first detected in groundwater samples. TCE degradation was stable in an enriched mixed bacterial culture in mineral salts medium for over five years and repeated transfers of the culture resulting in a 10(10) times dilution of the original groundwater. Aerobic TCE degradation resulted in stoichiometric chloride formation. Stable carbon isotope fractionation was observed providing a reliable analytical tool to assess this new biodegradation process at field sites. The results suggest that aerobic biodegradation of TCE without auxiliary substrate could be considered as an option for natural attenuation or engineered bioremediation of contaminated sites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Water Technology Center, Karlsruher Str. 84, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathrin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Water Technology Center, Karlsruher Str. 84, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gaza
authors.affiliation: Hydroisotop GmbH, Woelkestr. 9, 85301 Schweitenkirchen, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Voropaev
authors.affiliation: Hydroisotop GmbH, Woelkestr. 9, 85301 Schweitenkirchen, Germany.
authors.forename: Siegmund
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ertl
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Water Technology Center, Karlsruher Str. 84, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany. Electronic address: andreas.tiehm@tzw.de.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiehm
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D060587:Groundwater; D013997:Time Factors; D014241:Trichloroethylene / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014241:Trichloroethylene
keywords: Aerobic metabolic degradation; Bioremediation; Carbon isotope fractionation; Trichloroethene