EFFECT OF HYDROGEN ON THE PATHWAY AND PRODUCTS OF PCB DECHLORINATION

The pathway and products of reductive dechlorination of 2,3,4-chlorobi phenyl by Hudson River sediment microorganisms were altered by H-2. Un der H-2/CO2, 2,3,4-CBP was dechlorinated to 2,4-, 2,3-, and then 2-CBP . On the other hand, under N-2, the same organisms yielded only 2,4-CB P as they did under N-2/CO2. Dechlorination was not inhibited by a sin gle or periodic addition ofa methanogenic inhibitor, 2-bromoethanesulf onic acid under all gas atmospheres and thus, methane production was n ot necessary for dechlorination.