Physiological characterization of a broad spectrum reductively dechlorinating consortium

A wetland sediment-derived microbial consortium (WBC-2) was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and propagated in vitro to large quantities by SiREM Laboratory for potential use in bioaugmentation applications. On the basis of bench-scale tests, the consortium has the capacity to completely dechlorinate 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethene, tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, cisand trans-1,2-dichoroethene, 1,1-dichloroethene, 1,2-dichloroethane, and vinyl chloride in culture medium. Prior to field application in a bioaugmentation pilot test in a wetland, the physiological characteristics of the consortium were evaluated to improve our understanding of the fundamental microbiology of reductive dechlorinating consortia and of the potential effects of delivery methods and variable in situ conditions on bioaugmentation efficiency. The sensitivity of WBC-2 to pH, oxygen, and carbon tetrachloride (CT) was evaluated.