Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.3389/frwa.2025.1566161
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Temperature-associated effects on methanogenesis and microbial reductive dechlorination of trichloroethene in contaminated aquifer sediments
Author Bin Hudari, M.S.; Deb, S.; Vogt, C.; Filippini, M.; Nijenhuis, I.
Source Titel Frontiers in Water
Year 2025
Department MIBITECH; TECH
Volume 7
Page From art. 1566161
Language englisch
Topic T7 Bioeconomy
Supplements https://www.frontiersin.org/api/v4/articles/1566161/file/Data_Sheet_1.pdf/1566161_data-sheet_1/1
https://www.frontiersin.org/api/v4/articles/1566161/file/Data_Sheet_2.pdf/1566161_data-sheet_2/1
Keywords ATES; Reductive dechlorination; methanogenesis; temperature; Chlorinated ethenes; bioremediation
Abstract Aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) is a subsurface technology for urban heating and cooling. However, ATES systems may intersect with legacy groundwater contaminants from past anthropogenic activities. Chlorinated ethenes, particularly tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE), are common pollutants that can undergo microbial reductive dechlorination to cis-dichloroethene (cis-DCE), vinyl chloride (VC) and ultimately ethene. Since microbial activity is temperature dependent, heat storage in ATES systems may influence dechlorination efficiency. The study assessed the effect of temperature on microbial reductive dechlorination and community composition using sediment from a contaminated aquifer in Ferrara, Italy, where VC accumulation is of concern. Laboratory microcosms were amended with TCE and lactate, incubated at 10–60°C, and monitored for 105 days. Complete dechlorination to ethene occurred at 10–20°C and was linked to Dehalogenimonas spp... cis-DCE and VC accumulated at 30°C and 40°C, respectively, while no dechlorination activity was observed at 50 and 60°C, suggesting temperature-related inhibition. Methanogenesis occurred between 10-40°C and was associated with Methanosarcina, Methanothrix (mainly in non-TCE-amended controls), and Methanomicrobia (10-30°C). Methanogenic activity was absent above 40°C and delayed at 10°C. These results suggest that microbial dechlorination of chlorinated ethenes is impaired at temperatures exceeding 40°C. Therefore, integrating low- or medium-temperature (<40°C) ATES with enhanced natural attenuation may offer a viable strategy for simultaneous energy storage and bioremediation in chlorinated solvent-contamination aquifers.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=30406
Bin Hudari, M.S., Deb, S., Vogt, C., Filippini, M., Nijenhuis, I. (2025):
Temperature-associated effects on methanogenesis and microbial reductive dechlorination of trichloroethene in contaminated aquifer sediments
Front. Water 7 , art. 1566161 10.3389/frwa.2025.1566161