• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.183-191
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• 2010

In this study, we isolated 179 bacterial strains using benzene, phenol, ethylbenzene, aniline, cumene, toluene as growth substrate from TCE contaminated soils and wastewaters. All the 179 strains were screened for TCE (30 mg/L) removal (growth substrate 0.2 g/L, $30^{\circ}C$, pH 7, cell biomass 1.0 g/L (w/v)) under aerobic condition for 21 days. EK2 strain using aniline showed the highest removal efficiency (74.4%) for TCE degradation. This strain was identified as Delftia acidovorans as the results of API kit, 16S rDNA sequence and fatty acid assay. In the batch culture, D. acidovorans EK2 showed the bio-degradation for TCE in the various TCE concentration (10 mg/L to 200 mg/L). However, D. acidovorans EK2 did not show the bio-degradation in the TCE 250 mg/L. D. acidovorans EK2 also show the removal efficiency (99.9%) for 12 days in the low concentration (1.0 mg/L). Optimal conditions to degrade TCE 200 mg/L were cell biomass 1.0 g/L (w/v), aniline 0.5 g/L, pH 7 and $30^{\circ}C$. Removal efficiency and removal rate by D. acidovorans EK2 strain was 71.0% and 94.7 nmol/h for 21 days under optimal conditions. Conclusion, we expect that D. acidovorans EK2 may contribute on the biological treatment in the contaminated soil or industrio us wastewater.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.336-342
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• 2013

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a widely used substance in commercial and industrial applications, yet it must be removed from the contaminated soil and groundwater environment due to its toxic and carcinogenic nature. We investigated bacterial community structure, dominant bacterial strain, and removal efficiency in a TCE contaminated groundwater treatment system using immobilized carrier. The microbial diversity was determined by the nucleotide sequences of 16S rRNA gene library. The major bacterial population of the contaminated groundwater treatment system was belonging to BTEX degradation bacteria. The bacterial community consisted mainly of one genus of Pseudomonas (Pseudomonas putida group). The domination of Pseudomonas putida group may be caused by high concentration of toluene and TCE. Furthermore, we isolated a toluene and TCE degrading bacterium, named Pseudomonas sp. DHC8, from the immobilized carrier in bioreactor which was designed to remove TCE from the contaminated ground water. Based on the results of morphological and physiological characteristics, and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain DHC8 was identified as a member of Pseudomonas putida group. When TCE (0.83 mg/L) and toluene (60.61 mg/L) were degraded by this strain, removal efficiencies were 72.3% and 100% for 12.5 h, respectively. Toluene removal rate was 2.89 ${\mu}mol/g$-DCW/h and TCE removal rate was 0.02 ${\mu}mol/g$-DCW/h. These findings will be helpful for maintaining maximum TCE removal efficiency of a reactor for bioremediation of TCE.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.53-56
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• 2005

A Laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the kinetics of oxidation of trichloroethylene (TCE) in groundwater by potassium permanganate $(KMnO_4)$, Consumption of permanganate by TCE and aquifer materials was also evaluated to obtain an appropriate injection rate of $KMnO_4$. TCE degradation by $KMnO_4$ in the absence of aquifer material showed effective with pseudo-first order rate constant, $k_{obs}=1.8110^{-3}\;s^{-1}\;at\;KMnO_4=500mg/L$. TCE oxidation by $KMnO_4$ was found to be second order reaction and the rate constant, $k=0.65{\pm}0.08\;M^{-1}s^{-1}$, was independent of pH changes. $KMnO_4$ consumption rate by groundwater sampled from field site was not significant, indicating that groundwater containing negligible amount of dissolved organic matter does not have any influence on the $KMnO_4$ degradation. Meanwhile, aquifer materials from field site were actively reacted with permanganate, resulting in the significant consumption of $KMnO_4$. It might be attributed to the existence of metal oxides in aquifer materials, Based on the rate constants obtained from this study, appropriate injection rate of permanganate and TCE removal rate in groundwater could be estimated.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2005

Clostridium bifermentans strain DPH-1 has already been found to dechlorinate perchloroethylene (PCE) to cis-dichloroethylene (cis-DCE) via trichloroethylene (TCE). In this study, our investigation on different culture conditions of this DPH-1 strain was extended to find a more efficient and cost effective growth medium composition for this DPH-1 strain in bioremediation practices. Temperature dependency of strain DPH-1 showed that the growth starting time and PCE degradation at $15^{\circ}C$ was very slow compared to that of $30^{\circ}C$, but complete PCE degradation occurred in both cases. For the proper utilization of strain DPH-1 in more cost effective bioremediation practices, a simpler composition of an effective media was studied. One component of the culture medium, yeast extract, had been substituted by molasses, which served as a good source of electron donor. The DPH-1 strain in the medium containing molasses, in the presence of $K_{2}HPO_4\;and\;KH_{2}PO_4$, showed identical bacterial multiplication (0.135 mg protein $mL^{-1}h^{-1}$) and PCE degradation rates ($0.38\;{\mu}M/h$) to those of the yeast extract containing medium.

• Proceedings of the KAIS Fall Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.350-352
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• 2003

In this study plastic optical fibers(POFs) were considered as light-transmitting media and substrates for the potential use in photocatalytic environmental purification system. After the characteristics of POFs in terms of light transmittance and absorption were determined at the beginning, the detailed investigation was further performed through the photocatalytic degradation of trichloroethylene(TCE), iso-propanol and etc. with TiO$_2$-coated optical fiber reactor systems(POFR). It is concluded that the use of POfs is preferred to quartz optical fibers(QOFs) since the advantages such as ease of handling, lower cost, relatively reasonable light attenuation at the wavelength of near 400nm can be obtained. Various geometrical reactor shapes have been constructed and applied for the last one and half years. For the use of POF in water phase treatment, however, more detailed scientific and engineering aspects should be envisaged. This case requires a suitable mixture to obtain more stable and innocuous immobilization of photocatalyst on POF.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.569-575
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• 2002

Two bacterial strains capable of degrading trichloroethylene (TCE), isolated form soils contaminated with various chlorinated alkenes, were identified as Alcaligenes odorous N6 and Nocardia sp. Hl7. In addition, four KCTC strains, including three strains of Pseudomonas putida and one strain of Sphingomonas chlorophenolica, exhibited an ability to degrade toluene. A. odorans N6 and Nocardia sp. H17 degraded 84% of the initial amount of TCE in a basal salts medium (BSM), containing 0.2 mM TCE as the sole source of carbon and energy, in a day. The optimal pH for growth was within a range of 7.0-8.0. A mixed culture of the four toluene-degrading isolates degraded 95% of 0.2 mM TCE with 1.5 mM toluene as an inducer, whereas no TCE was degraded by the same mixture without an inducer. When a mixed culture of all 6 isolates was used, the degradation efficiency of 0.2 mM TCE was 72% without an inducer, in a day, and 82% with toluene as an inducer. In a continuous treatment, 1,000 mg/1 of TCE in an artificial wastewater was completely removed within 18 h when an activated sludge was used along with the microbial mixture, which was 27 h laster than when only an activated sludge was used. Accordingly, it would appear that such a microbial mixture could be effectively applied to the biological treatment of wastewater containing TCE with or without an inducer.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.489-496
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• 2013

Ground water underlying soil is vulnerable to pollution by organic chemicals through their percolation through the soil system. This study was conducted to provide information on the seepage behavior of organic chemical contaminants in clay, silty and sandy soils. Chloroform, 1,1,1-trichloroethane and trichloroethylene are readily transported through the soil; their percolated mass were 4.6-19.2 percent of the total mass applied. Tetrachloroethylene, 1,2-dichlorobenzene and 1,3-dichlorobenzene were retarded by soils due to sorption. Between 0.6 and 4.8 percent of the material applied to the surface percolated within the experimental period. Carbon tetrachloride was attenuated considerably by passage through soils. Only 0.1-0.4 percent of the mass reached the groundwater. Significant degradation of bromoform was observed. Apparent breakdown of intermediates of the brominated compounds were detected. Transformations of the brominated compounds appear to be the result of both biological and chemical processes. The effect of soil type on the mobility of organic chemical contaminants was considerable. The organic contaminants moved faster in sandy soil than in either clay or silty soils.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2005

Perchloroethylene (tetrachloroethylene, PCE), a dry cleaning and degreasing solvent, can enter ground-water through accidental leak or spills. PCE can be degraded to trichloroethylene (TCE), 1, 1-dichloroethylene (DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC) as potential bio-product. These compounds have been reported that they can cause clinical diseases and cytotoxicity. However, only a little genotoxic information of these compounds has been known. In this study, we investigated DNA single strand breaks of PCE, TCE, DCE and VC by single cell gel electrophoresis assay, (comet assay) which is a sensitive, reliable and rapid method for DNA single strand breaks with mouse lymphoma L5178Y cells. From these results, $37.5\;{\mu}g/ml$ of PCE, $189\;{\mu}g/ml$ of TCE and $56.4\;{\mu}g/ml$ of DCE were revealed significant DNA damages in the absence of S-9 metabolic activation system meaning direct-acting mutagen. And in the presence of S-9 metabolic activation system, $41.5\;{\mu}g/ml$ of PCE, $328.7\;{\mu}g/ml$ of TCE and $949\;{\mu}g/ml$ of DCE were induced significant DNA damage. In the case of VC, it was revealed a significant DNA damage in the presence of S-9 metabolic activation system. Therefore, we suggest that chloroethylene compounds (PCE, TCE, DCE and VC) may be induced the DNA damage in a mammalian cell.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.114-121
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• 2010

Oxygen sensitivity and substrate requirement have been known as possible reasons for the intricate growth of Dehalococcoides spp. and limiting factors of for routinely applying bioaugmentation using anaerobic Dehalococcoides-containing microbes for remediating chlorinated organic compounds. To explore the effect of the short-term exposure of the short-term exposure of oxygen on Dehalococcoides capability, dechlorination performance, and hydrogen production fermentation from formate, an anaerobic reductive dechlorination mixed-culture (Evanite culture) including dehalococcoides spp. was in this study. In the results, once the mixed-culture were exposed to oxygen, trichloroethylene (TCE) degradation rate decreased and it was not fully recovered even addition of excess formate for 40 days. In contrast, hydrogen was continuously produced by hydrogen-fermentation process even under oxygen presence. The results indicate that although the oxygen-exposed cells cannot completely dechlorinate TCE to ethylene (ETH), hydrogen fermentation process was not affected by oxygen presence. These results suggest that dechlorinating microbes may more sensitive to oxygen than fermenting microbes, and monitoring dechlorinators activity may be critical to achieve an successful remediation of a TCE contaminated-aquifer through bioaugmentation using Dehalococcoides spp..

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.419-427
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• 2009

To test applicability for continuous flow treatment of ultrasound technology, sonolysis of TCE aqueous solution using 584 kHz multi irradiation reactor was performed under batch and continuous flow conditions. Under batch condition (3 and 4 sides irradiation, 600 W), first order degradation rate constant of TCE was higher under 4 sides than 3 sides irradiation conditions, while the generation of $H_2O_2$ and chloride was similar under both irradiation conditions. Under continuous flow condition with 4 sides irradiation, removal efficiencies of TCE in steady-state were decreased from 83 to 48% with increasing flow rate from 67 to 300 mL/min at 600 W, and were increased from 14 to 75% with increasing acoustic power from 100 to 600 W at 100 mL/min. Removal efficiency of TCE in groundwater was decreased 10% compared to in distilled water at 100 mL/min and 600 W.