EVALUATION OF AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC BACTERIAL DECHLORINATION POTENTIAL OF A 1,2-DICHLOROETHANE CONTAMINATED AQUIFER

Chlorinated solvents, belonging to the class of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs), are synthetic organohalide chemicals frequently found as contaminants of groundwater and soil, due to their widespread use in several industrial processes and improper disposal methods. These compounds pose serious health threats because of their toxic and sometimes carcinogenic effects. Among these compounds, 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) is one of the most common aquifer contaminants, considered toxic and classified as a possible human carcinogen. Remediation approaches toward these contaminants include conventional cleanup technologies based on physical/chemical methods, and bioremediation, consider…