On the degradability of tetrachloroethene in biologically treated wastes

Investigation on the degradability of tetrachloroethene was performed using fresh and mechanically-biologically pretreated household waste. The corres ponding metabolites were determined and the experimental conditions were ch aracterized by the concentrations of methane, organic acids, sulfate and ni trate as well as by pH and redox potential. Furthermore, sorption studies o n the substances in different wastes were carried out. With pretreated wast e the degradation efficiency was much higher than with fresh waste. On the other hand, the fresh waste showed higher sorption capacity for the chlorin ated compounds. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.