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Bacteria help remediate hazardous waste
Among the most common contaminants of groundwater, soils, and sediments in the US are two chlorinated solvents, perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichlo- roethylene (TCE). One reason for their widespread persistence is that PCE and TCE, like other chlorinated solvents,
are highly resistant to aerobic biodeg- radation. However, a few years ago anaerobic bacteria were discovered that can use chlorinated solvents for respiration, breaking them down in the process. These bacteria can remove
all of the chlorine atoms from PCE and TCE by organohalide respiration and form ethene, an innocuous end product. These bacteria can potentially be used to detoxify chlorinated solvents in the environment or in engineered treatment systems. CEGE researchers are study- ing these bacteria in order to develop effective bioremediation strategies for chlorinated solvents. [32–35]
