Kinetics of bio-filtration of trichloroethylene by methanotrophs in presence of methanol

The biodegradation of TCE was studied in a laboratory scale biofilter packed with wood charcoal and inoculated with mixed culture of methanotrophs isolated from local soil. The removal efficiency was found to be higher than 90% up to an inlet load of 5.1 g/m3 h. The maximum elimination capacity was 6.7 g/m3 h at an inlet loading rate of 11.3 g/m3 h. The reaction constants ECmax, Ks and Ki calculated from the experimental results are also presented. The biodegradation process is found to be inhibited at higher TCE concentration. The carbon dioxide production rate has been found to be a linear function of elimination capacity. The DNA finger printing techniques has indicated the presence of functionally active methanotrophic community including Methylocystis sp. in the biofilter.