| Biodegradation of 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA), had been observed to occur under various conditions in microcosms constructed from sediment and groundwater obtained from contaminated sites. The primary goal of this research was to develop and characterize enrichment cultures capable of sustained 1,2-DCA degradation under aerobic, fermentative and nitrate reducing conditions.; Aerobic oxidation of 1,2-DCA was measured at rates ranging from 78μM/d to 148μM/d. 1,2-DCA degradation under fermentative conditions was demonstrated to occur with various electron donors with varying rates of degradation. The focus of this research however was on 1,2-DCA degradation under nitrate reducing conditions. Degradation rates were determined to range from 224μM/d to 478μM/d. The metabolic pathway under these conditions was also investigated. The potential intermediate compounds studied were monochloroacetic acid (MCA) and chloroethanol. Finally, organisms were isolated from both aerobic and nitrate reducing enrichment cultures. Overall, this study showed that biodegradation has a strong impact on the fate and lifetime of 1,2-DCA in the environment. |
