Title: Biosorption and biodegradation of trichloroethylene by acclimated activated sludge

Authors: Qi Yang, Haitao Shang, Jianlong Wang

Addresses: School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, PR China. ' School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, PR China. ' Laboratory of Environmental Technology, INET, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China

Abstract: The biosorprion and biodegradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) was investigated. The experimental results showed that at 25°C the adsorption equilibrium of TCE at concentrations from 10 mg/L to 200 mg/L could be described by the Freundlich isotherm. Adsorption could complete within 15 min. Results indicated that glucose could serve as a co-substrate and enhance TCE biodegradation through co-metabolism. The TCE biodegradation conformed to the first-order reaction kinetic, and the rate constant was 0.3212 day⁻¹ at 25°C. In addition, results also indicated that TCE could serve as the sole substrate and be biodegraded under aerobic condition. No intermediate products such as DCE and VC were accumulated during the degradation.

Keywords: TCE; trichloroethylene; biodegradation; cometabolism; biosorption; Freundlich isotherm; activate sludge.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2009.027229

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2009 Vol.38 No.3, pp.289 - 298

Published online: 18 Jul 2009 *

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