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Modeling trichloroethylene degradation by a recombinant pseudomonad expressing toluene ortho ‐monooxygenase in a fixed‐film bioreactor
Author(s) -
Sun Adam K.,
Hong Juan,
Wood Thomas K.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0290(19980705)59:1<40::aid-bit6>3.0.co;2-t
Subject(s) - biofilter , trichloroethylene , biodegradation , bioreactor , cometabolism , chemistry , degradation (telecommunications) , biofilm , mass transfer , chromatography , mineralization (soil science) , environmental chemistry , chemical engineering , bacteria , environmental engineering , organic chemistry , bioremediation , environmental science , nitrogen , biology , telecommunications , computer science , genetics , engineering
Burkholderia cepacia PR1 23 (TOM 23 C ), expressing constitutively the TCE‐degrading enzyme toluene ortho ‐monooxygenase (Tom), was immobilized on SIRAN™ glass beads in a biofilter for the degradation and mineralization of gas‐phase trichloroethylene (TCE). To interpret the experimental results, a mathematical model has been developed which includes axial dispersion, convection, film mass‐transfer, and biodegradation coupled with deactivation of the TCE‐degrading enzyme. Parameters used for numerical simulation were determined from either independent experiments or values reported in the literature. The model was compared with the experimental data, and there was good agreement between the predicted and measured TCE breakthrough curves. The simulations indicated that TCE degradation in the biofilter was not limited by mass transfer of TCE or oxygen from the gas phase to the liquid/biofilm phase (biodegradation limits), and predicts that improving the specific TCE degradation rates of bacteria will not significantly enhance long‐term biofilter performance. The most important factors for prolonging the performance of biofilter are increasing the amount of active biomass and the transformation capacity (enhancing resistance to TCE metabolism). © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 59:40–51, 1998.