Effects of increasing loading on a continuously fed methanotrophic bioreactor treating aqueous trichloroethylene

A mixed, suspended-growth, methanotrophic bioreactor was operated with continuous aqueous feed and increasing trichloroethylene loading until failure due to toxicity. Biomass and TCE degradation were continuously maintained as TCE loading increased from 4 to 10 {micro}g TCE/mg protein/day. The maximum sustainable ratio of TCE degraded to methane consumed was 6 {micro}g TCE/mg methane. Biomass, methane consumption, and TCE degradation fell precipitously when TCE loading exceeded 10 {micro}g TCE/mg protein/day. Reactor failure was preceded by a fall in soluble methane monooxygenase activity.