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Detoxification of vinyl chloride to ethene coupled to growth of an anaerobic bacterium

Author

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  • Jianzhong He

    (Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Kirsti M. Ritalahti

    (Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Kun-Lin Yang

    (Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Stephen S. Koenigsberg

    (Regenesis Bioremediation Products)

  • Frank E. Löffler

    (Georgia Institute of Technology
    Georgia Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE) are ideal solvents for numerous applications, and their widespread use makes them prominent groundwater pollutants. Even more troubling, natural biotic and abiotic processes acting on these solvents lead to the accumulation of toxic intermediates (such as dichloroethenes) and carcinogenic intermediates (such as vinyl chloride)1,2,3,4. Vinyl chloride was found in at least 496 of the 1,430 National Priorities List sites identified by the US Environmental Protection Agency, and its precursors PCE and TCE are present in at least 771 and 852 of these sites, respectively5. Here we describe an unusual, strictly anaerobic bacterium that destroys dichloroethenes and vinyl chloride as part of its energy metabolism, generating environmentally benign products (biomass, ethene and inorganic chloride). This organism might be useful for cleaning contaminated subsurface environments and restoring drinking-water reservoirs.

Suggested Citation

  • Jianzhong He & Kirsti M. Ritalahti & Kun-Lin Yang & Stephen S. Koenigsberg & Frank E. Löffler, 2003. "Detoxification of vinyl chloride to ethene coupled to growth of an anaerobic bacterium," Nature, Nature, vol. 424(6944), pages 62-65, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:424:y:2003:i:6944:d:10.1038_nature01717
    DOI: 10.1038/nature01717
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    Cited by:

    1. Paolo Ciampi & Carlo Esposito & Ernst Bartsch & Eduard J. Alesi & Christian Nielsen & Laura Ledda & Laura Lorini & Marco Petrangeli Papini, 2022. "Coupled Hydrogeochemical Approach and Sustainable Technologies for the Remediation of a Chlorinated Solvent Plume in an Urban Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-20, August.

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