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2127968 
Journal Article 
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane aerobic cometabolic biodegradation in slurry and soil-free bioreactors: A kinetic study 
Frascari, D; Cappelletti, M; Fedi, S; Zannoni, D; Nocentini, M; Pinelli, D 
2010 
Yes 
Biochemical Engineering Journal
ISSN: 1369-703X 
52 
1 
55-64 
WOS:000282407200009 
In this work the aerobic cometabolic biodegradation of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane (TeCA) by propane-utilizing bacteria was studied in slurry bioreactors containing soil and groundwater from 5 aquifers as well as in soil-free bioreactors. The main goals were: (a) to identify and calibrate a kinetic model of TeCA cometabolism; (b) to select and characterize a TeCA-degrading bacterial consortium; (c) to compare the results obtained in slurry and in soil-free bioreactors. The results showed that 4 of the 5 tested aquifers contain TeCA-degrading bacteria, indicating that aerobic cometabolism is a potentially effective approach for TeCA-contaminated aquifers. In bioaugmentation tests, a TeCA-cometabolizing consortium developed in the slurry bioreactors induced a strong reduction of the lag-time for the onset of TeCA cometabolism. The soil-free tests yielded a satisfactory TeCA degradation performance, indicating that on-site soil-free bioreactors represent an interesting technical solution for the aerobic cometabolic bioremediation of CAN-contaminated groundwaters. The mineralization of the organic Cl was equal to about 97%. The prolonged TeCA biodegradation determined a progressive selection of the bacterial strains more effective in TeCA degradation and less affected by degradation product toxicity. The tested Michaelis-Menten-based kinetic model proved an effective tool to interpret the experimental data of TeCA aerobic cometabolism. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 
Aerobic cometabolism; Tetrachloroethane; Bioremediation; Bioreactor; Kinetic model