Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026

Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor
Published on: October 15, 2015
Biodegradation of tetrachlorothylene using methanol as co-metabolic substrate
Qi Yang1, Hai-Tao Shang, Hui-Di Li
1School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geoscience, Beijing 100083, China. yq@cugb.edu.cn
Methanol effectively biodegrades tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in acclimated anaerobic sludge, with PCE degrading faster than its intermediate, trichloroethylene (TCE). This process shows potential for environmental remediation of chlorinated solvents.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Bioremediation
- Organic Chemistry
Background:
- Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) is a persistent environmental pollutant.
- Anaerobic biodegradation offers a sustainable remediation approach.
- Methanol can serve as an electron donor for reductive dechlorination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate PCE biodegradation using methanol as an electron donor.
- To identify biodegradation intermediates and kinetics.
- To assess the suitability of methanol for PCE remediation.
Main Methods:
- Acclimated anaerobic sludge was used for biodegradation experiments.
- High-performance gas chromatography (GC) with an autosampler analyzed PCE and intermediates.
- First-order reaction kinetics were applied to degradation data.
Main Results:
- PCE was reductively dechlorinated to cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (DCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), vinyl chloride (VC), and ethylene.
- Degradation of PCE and TCE followed first-order kinetics.
- PCE degradation rate constant (0.8991 d⁻¹) was significantly higher than TCE (0.068 d⁻¹).
Conclusions:
- Methanol is a suitable electron donor for PCE biodegradation.
- Cometabolic electron donors are not limiting factors in this system.
- The findings support the use of methanol-based bioremediation for PCE-contaminated sites.
More Related Videos
10:03Isolation, Propagation, and Identification of Bacterial Species with Hydrocarbon Metabolizing Properties from Aquatic Habitats
Published on: December 7, 2021
08:21Isolation and Screening from Soil Biodiversity for Fungi Involved in the Degradation of Recalcitrant Materials
Published on: May 16, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Bioremediation
Lipid Catabolism
Microbes and Methanogenesis
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons
Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides
Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics