Soil- and surfactant-enhanced reductive dechlorination of carbon tetrachloride in the presence of Shewanella putrefaciens 200

Sorption of organic contaminants to soils has been shown to limit bioavailability and biodegradation in some systems. Use of surfactants has been proposed to reverse this effect. In this study, the effects of a high organic carbon content soil and a nonionic surfactant (Triton X-100) on the reductive dechlorination of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) were examined in anaerobic systems containing Shewanella putrefaciens. Although more than 70% of the added CCl4 was sorbed to the soil phase in these systems, the reductive dechlorination of CCl4 was not diminished. Rather, rates of CCl4 dechlorination in systems containing soil were enhanced relative to systems containing non-sorptive sand slurries. This enhancement was also observed in sterile soil slurries to which a chemical reductant, dithiothreitol was added. It appears that the organic soil used in these experiments contains some catalytic factor capable of transforming CCl4 in the presence of an appropriate chemical or microbial reductant. The addition of Triton X-100 to sand and soil slurries containing S. putrefaciens resulted in increased CCl4 degradation in both systems. The effect of Triton could not be explained by: (i) surfactant induced changes in the distribution of CCl4, (i.e. decreased sorption) or the rate of CCl4 desorption; (ii) a direct reaction between Triton and CCl4; or (iii) increased cell numbers resulting from use of the surfactant as a substrate. Rather, it appears that Triton X-100 addition resulted in lysis of bacterial cells, a release of biochemical reductant, and enhanced reductive transformation of CCl4. These results provide insights to guide the development of more effective direct or indirect bioremediation strategies.