The Effect of Mixtures of Xenobiotics and Primary Electron Donor on the Anaerobic Biotransformation of High Concentrations of Chlorinated Aliphatics

Results are presented from experiments addressing the anaerobic biotransfoimation of high concentrations of three chlorinated aliphatics, dichloromethane (DCM), chloroform (CF), and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), when fed alone and in mixtures. Experiments were conducted to address the effect of feeding mixtures of these compounds on the transformation rates of individual components in the mixture, and to assess the effect of acetate loading rates on the extent of transformation of the chlorinated aliphatics. Feeding mixtures of chlorinated aliphatics caused decreased transformation of TCA, increased the transformation of DCM, and had mixed effects on CF transformation. The systems fed higher acetate loading rates demonstrated an increased ability to transform the chlorinated aliphatics.