Progress toward the biological treatment of C₁and C₂halogenated hydrocarbons

Abstract

Abstract Halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons can be dehalogenated and completely mineralized in a highly reductive environment characterized by active methanogenesis. In the aerobic environment, microbial growth on certain alkanes and aromatic compounds induces the synthesis of mono‐and dioxygenases, which fortuitously oxidize and dehalo‐genate alkanes and alkenes. Tetrahalogenated methanes, ethanes, and ethenes are readily reduced under anaerobic conditions, but they are not known to be degraded by aerobic microorganisms. In contrast, less halogenated compounds are more easily degraded aero‐bically. Development of a sequential anaerobic‐aerobic bioreactor process for the complete mineralization of these hazardous wastes at source is recommended as a feasible and preferable alternative to current disposal methods. Key words: biodegradationreductive halogenationaerobicanaerobichalogenated aliphatic hydrocarbonstrichloroethylenedechlorination