Microbial population dynamics in a CANOXIS and a UASB TCE-degrading bioreactor

Trichloroethylene (TCE), a common soil and groundwater pollutant, can be biodegraded either in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Tartakovsky et al . (2003) have shown recently that the TCE degradation performances were higher in the coupled aerobic/anaerobic bioreactor (CANOXIS) oxygenated with hydrogen peroxide https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> H 2 O 2 at a sub-bactericidal concentration than in an upflow anaerobic sludge bioreactor (UASB). To understand the microbial ecology underlying the TCE degradation in those reactors, a molecular study of the microbial population dynamics and a phylogenetic characterization were conducted using polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). The two bacteria domains and the presence of functional genes for TCE degradation were investigated using appropriate primers.