Analysis of microbial community during the anaerobic dechlorination of PCE/TCE by DGGE

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of PCE and TCE as electron acceptors on the bacterial composition of dechlorinating communities. The enrichment cultures reductively dechlorinating PCE and TCE were developed from three environment samples using acetate as electron donor. The cultures were prepared by sequential enrichment, which was seeded with sediment and dredged soil. Denatured gradient gel electrophresis (DGGE) of 16S rRNA gene fragment was used to compare the microbial communities of these three enrichment cultures. After incubation for 4 weeks, the removal efficiencies of PCE and TCE were highest from Yeocheon site (87.37% and 84.46%, respectively). PCE and TCE as electron acceptors affected the bacterial diversity and community profiles in the enrichment cultures. DGGE analysis showed that the dominant bacteria in PCE and TCE enrichment were belonged to Clostridium sp., Desulfotomaculum sp., and uncultured bacteria.