Bacteria agent for TCE bioremediation

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a widely used industrial solvent known for its effectiveness in degreasing metals and other industrial applications. However, it is also a significant environmental contaminant, frequently found in soil and groundwater due to improper disposal, leaks, or spills. TCE is a hazardous compound with potential health risks, including carcinogenic effects, making its remediation a priority. Traditional physical and chemical remediation methods often face limitations in terms of effectiveness and cost, particularly in low-permeability soils. As a result, the use of specialized bacteria for TCE degradation has emerged as a promising alternative.Bioremediation utilizes microorganisms to break down or transform contaminants into less harmful substances. Bacterial bioremediation of TCE leverages the metabolic capabilities of certain bacteria that can utilize TCE as an electron acceptor under anaerobic conditions or co-metabolize it in the presence of other substrates. This process can transform TCE into non-toxic end products like ethene, offering a sustainable solution to contamination.This project including the sequencing of the bacteria agent containing Dehalococcoides, which is originally derived from the TCQ1 culture from Yangtze Three Gorges Reservoir sediments and is cultured in our lab. The functional microorganisms was inoculated into the electrokinetic-enhanced bioremediation (EK-BIO) system. Continuous TCE degradation was achieved, with 46.52% of TCE recovery with 43.99% ethylene. The bacteria agent also demonstrate high environmental adaptability that Dehalococcoides was widespread within the EK-BIO system with 0.023% - 7.6%. The qPCR results demonstrated a 3.7-fold increase in tceA gene copies at 138 days compared to 28 days. This bacteria agent shows high potential on the bioremediation of TCE-contaminated sites with effective dechlorination performance and high environmental adaptability.