Bioremediation of chlorinated solvents using alternate electron acceptors.

This chapter addresses some important issues concerning the transformation of chlorinated solvents in the absence of oxygen that can be applied to the problem of environmental contamination as well as to the development of engineered treatment processes for subsurface cleanup. It discusses metabolism and biotransformation of chlorinated solvents with alternate electron acceptors, approaches for treatment, reaction stoichiometry, biotransformation rates, and limitations. The chapter presents aerobic and anaerobic biotransformation of petroleum hydrocarbons and aerobic biotransformation of chlorinated solvents. Biological processes offer the prospect of converting organic contaminants to harmless products. Establishing the utility of anaerobic bioremediation for chlorinated solvents is an important scientific and engineering challenge. The coupling of redox conditions and chlorinated solvent biotransformation is also important in establishing how to chemically manipulate the medium to achieve a desired biotransformation. An important factor in the success of subsurface biotransformation is the availability of the contaminant for microbial reactions.