An investigation into the effects of a nutrient-surfactant compound on the bioremediation of trichloroethylene

Batch experiments were performed to determine the effects of BioTreat, a nutrient-surfactant compound, on Burkholderia cepacia G4 PRI₃₀₁ and the degradation of TCE by this bacteria. BioTreat was found to have surfactant properties as evidenced by its ability to lower the surface tension of water; an average critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 0.05% was measured. A partitioning coefficient, K_m2. analogous to K_m, was calculated on a mass basis rather than a molar basis since the molecular weight of BioTreat is not known by this researcher. Experimental data from abiotic solubilization experiments confirmed that BioTreat could enhance the solubilization of TCE at concentrations greater than the average CMC. BioTreat had no effect on increasing the apparent aqueous solubility of TCE at concentrations less than the average CMC. BioTreat was found to have some nutrient-providing capabilities. BioTreat is partially biodegradable by G4 and can support cell growth. BioTreat, at concentrations greater than the average CMC, inhibited the specific activity of the enzyme responsible for TCE degradation by G4. BioTreat was found to increase TCE remediation at concentrations less than or equal to the average CMC during degradation experiments, possibly due to increased cell numbers made possible by the increased nutrients available from BioTreat. Treatments containing low concentrations of BioTreat were found to have increased cell numbers when compared to treatments containing no BioTreat BioTreat was found to inhibit TCE degradation at concentrations in excess of the average CMC, possibly from a toxic effect on the bacteria or oxygen limiting conditions.