An Integrated Anaerobic/Aerobic Bioprocess for the Remediation of Chlorinated Phenol‐Contaminated Soil and Groundwater

Abstract

An investigation of biodegradation of chlorinated phenol in an anaerobic/aerobic bioprocess environment was made. The reactor configuration used consisted of linked anaerobic and aerobic reactors, which served as a model for a proposed bioremediation strategy. The proposed strategy was studied in two reactors before linkage. In the anaerobic compartment, the transformation of the model contaminant, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP), to lesser-chlorinated metabolites was shown to occur during reductive dechlorination under sulfate-reducing conditions. The consortium was also shown to desorb and mobilize 2,4,6-TCP in soils. This was followed, in the aerobic compartment, by biodegradation of the pollutant and metabolites, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 4-chlorophenol, and phenol, by immobilized white-rot fungi. The integrated process achieved elimination of the compound by more than 99% through fungal degradation of metabolites produced in the dechlorination stage. pH correction to the anaerobic reactor was found to be necessary because acidic effluent from the fungal reactor inhibited sulfate reduction and dechlorination. Water Environ. Res., 78, 701 (2006).

Single turnover studies of oxidative halophenol dehalogenation by horseradish peroxidase reveal a mechanism involving two consecutive one electron steps: Toward a functional halophenol bioremediation catalyst

“…They are extensively used as disinfectants, pesticides, herbicides and dyes; as a result they can contaminate the soil and ground water, and eventually enter the food chain. Removal of chlorophenols from industrial waste waters is achieved by a variety of treatment processes, including (a) sequential anaerobic and aerobic biodegradation [5][6][7], (b) adsorption by activated carbon [8,9], (c) photo-degradation [10,11], (d) and, most recently, enzymatic degradation [12][13][14][15].…”

Phenolic compounds biosorption onto Schizophyllum commune fungus: FTIR analysis, kinetics and adsorption isotherms modeling

“…The discharge of phenols containing domestic and industrial wastewater has caused the environmental contamination by phenols. Many surface waters [2,3], groundwater [4] and soils [5] have been reported to be contaminated by phenol and chlorophenols. The most important aspect is that, phenol is a colorless solid and easily miscible in water.…”

Influence of humic acids of different origins on oxidation of phenol and chlorophenols by permanganate

“…The discharge of phenols containing domestic and industrial wastewater has caused the environmental contamination by phenols. Many surface waters [2,3], groundwater [4] and soils [5] have been reported to be contaminated by phenol and chlorophenols. Phenols are considered as priority pollutants since they are harmful to organisms at low concentrations and many of them have been classified as hazardous pollutants because of their potential harm to human health.…”