Methanol biosynthesis by covalently immobilized cells of Methylosinus trichosporium: batch and continuous studies

The DEAE-cellulose linked cells of Methylosinus trichosporium displaying high specific methane mono-oxygenase activity (66 mumol methane oxidized/h mg cells) were used for methanol biosynthesis from biogas derived methane in a batch and a continuous cell reactor. The optimum cell-to-carrier ratio was determined to be 0.5 g cells/g dry weight cellulose. Batch experiments indicated that 100 mM phosphate ion concentration was necessary to inhibit further oxidation of methanol; excess oxygen supply favored methanol accumulation with an increase in methane conversion efficiency to 27%. A pulse of 40 mM sodium formate at the end of 6 h resulted in restoration of methanol accumulation by regenerating NADH(2) required for the sustained activity of methane mono-oxygenase. Maximum methanol level of 50 mumol/mg cells was obtained in the batch reactor. In a standard 50-mL ultrafiltration continuous reactor, the covalently linked cells produced methanol at a continuous rate of 100 mumol/h for the first 10 h, after which the methanol accumulation rate fell low due to the depletion of NADH(2). The methanol accumulation could be stimulated by supplying sodium formate (40 mM) in either 20 or 100 mM phosphate buffer. Maximum methanol accumulation rate of 267 mumol/h was obtained when 20 mM formate was supplied in the feed stream containing 100 mM phosphate ions, and this level of biosynthesis was maintained for over 72 h. The stoichiometric balance made at various points of formate addition indicated that the molar amount of methanol generated at steady state is dependent on the equimolar addition of sodium formate to the feed. The half-life t(1/2) and thermal denaturation rate constant K(d) were computed to be 108 h and 6.42 x 10(-3) h(-1), respectively.     

Numerical modeling and uncertainties in rate coefficients for methane utilization and TCE cometabolism by a methane-oxidizing mixed culture

The rates of methane utilization and trichloroethylene (TCE) cometabolism by a methanotrophic mixed culture were characterized in batch and pseudo-steady-state studies. Procedures for determination of the rate coefficients and their uncertainties by fitting a numerical model to experimental data are described. The model consisted of a system of differential equations for the rates of Monod kinetics, cell growth on methane and inactivation due to TCE transformation product toxicity, gas/liquid mass transfer of methane and TCE, and the rate of passive losses of TCE. The maximum specific rate of methane utilization (k(CH(4) )) was determined by fitting the numerical model to batch experimental data, with the initial concentration of active methane-oxidizing cells (X(0) (a)) also used as a model fitting parameter. The best estimate of k(CH(4) ) was 2.2 g CH(4)/g cells-d with excess copper available, with a single-parameter 95% confidence interval of 2.0-2.4 mg/mg-d. The joint 95% confidence region for k(CH(4) ) and X(0) (a) is presented graphically. The half-velocity coefficient (K(S,CH(4) )) was 0.07 mg CH(4)/L with excess copper available and 0.47 mg CH(4)/L under copper limitation, with 95% confidence intervals of 0.02-0.11 and 0.35-0.59 mg/L, respectively. Unique values of the TCE rate coefficients k(TCE) and K(S,TCE) could not be determined because they were found to be highly correlated in the model fitting analysis. However, the ratio k(TCE)/K(S,TCE) and the TCE transformation capacity (T(C)) were well defined, with values of 0.35 L/mg-day and 0.21 g TCE/g active cells, respectively, for cells transforming TCE in the absence of methane or supplemental formate. The single-parameter 95% confidence intervals for k(TCE)/K(S,TCE) and T(C) were 0.27-0.43 L/mg-d and 0.18-0.24 g TCE/g active cells, respectively. The joint 95% confidence regions for k(TCE)/K(S,TCE) and T(C) are presented graphically. (c) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 53: 320-331, 1997.     

Laboratory evaluation of a two-stage treatment system for TCE cometabolism by a methane-oxidizing mixed culture

The objective of this research was to evaluate several factors affecting the performance of a two-stage treatment system employing methane-oxidizing bacteria for trichloroethylene (TCE) biodegradation. The system consists of a completely mixed growth reactor and a plug-flow transformation reactor in which the TCE is cometabolized. Laboratory studies were conducted with continuous growth reactors and batch experiments simulating transformation reactor conditions. Performance was characterized in terms of TCE transformation capacity (T(C), g TCE/g cells), transformation yield (T(Y), g TCE/g CH(4)), and the rate coefficient ratio k(TCE)/K(S,TCE) (L/mg-d). The growth reactor variables studied were solids retention time (SRT) and nutrient nitrogen (N) concentration. Formate and methane were evaluated as potential transformation reactor amendments. Comparison of cultures from 2- and 8-day SRT (nitrogen-limited) growth reactors indicated that there was no significant effect of growth reactor SRT or nitrogen availability on T(C) or T(Y), but N-limited conditions yielded higher k(TCE)/K(S,TCE). The TCE cometabolic activity of the 8-day SRT, N-limited growth reactor culture varied significantly during a 7-year period of operation. The T(C) and T(Y) of the resting cells increased gradually to levels a factor of 2 higher than the initial values. The reasons for this increase are unknown. Formate addition to the transformation reactor gave higher T(C) and T(Y) for 2-day SRT growth reactor conditions and significantly lower T(C), T(Y), and k(TCE)/K(S,TCE) for 8-day SRT N-limited conditions. Methane addition to the transformation reactor inhibited TCE cometabolism at low TCE concentrations and enhanced TCE cometabolism at high TCE concentrations, indicating that the TCE cometabolism in the presence of methane does not follow simple competitive inhibition kinetics. (c) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 55: 650-659, 1997.     

Effects of toxicity, aeration, and reductant supply on trichloroethylene transformation by a mixed methanotrophic culture

The trichloroethylene (TCE) transformation rate and capacity of a mixed methanotrophic culture at room temperature were measured to determine the effects of time without methane (resting), use of an alternative energy source (formate), aeration, and toxicity of TCE and its transformation products. The initial specific TCE transformation rate of resting cells was 0.6 mg of TCE per mg of cells per day, and they had a finite TCE transformation capacity of 0.036 mg of TCE per mg of cells. Formate addition resulted in increased initial specific TCE transformation rates (2.1 mg/mg of cells per day) and elevated transformation capacity (0.073 mg of TCE per mg of cells). Significant declines in methane conversion rates following exposure to TCE were observed for both resting and formate-fed cells, suggesting toxic effects caused by TCE or its transformation products. TCE transformation and methane consumption rates of resting cells decreased with time much more rapidly when cells were shaken and aerated than when they remained dormant, suggesting that the transformation ability of methanotrophs is best preserved by storage under anoxic conditions.     

Effects of toxicity, aeration, and reductant supply on trichloroethylene transformation by a mixed methanotrophic culture.

The trichloroethylene (TCE) transformation rate and capacity of a mixed methanotrophic culture at room temperature were measured to determine the effects of time without methane (resting), use of an alternative energy source (formate), aeration, and toxicity of TCE and its transformation products. The initial specific TCE transformation rate of resting cells was 0.6 mg of TCE per mg of cells per day, and they had a finite TCE transformation capacity of 0.036 mg of TCE per mg of cells. Formate addition resulted in increased initial specific TCE transformation rates (2.1 mg/mg of cells per day) and elevated transformation capacity (0.073 mg of TCE per mg of cells). Significant declines in methane conversion rates following exposure to TCE were observed for both resting and formate-fed cells, suggesting toxic effects caused by TCE or its transformation products. TCE transformation and methane consumption rates of resting cells decreased with time much more rapidly when cells were shaken and aerated than when they remained dormant, suggesting that the transformation ability of methanotrophs is best preserved by storage under anoxic conditions.     

Trichloroethylene degradation by cells of a methane-utilizing bacterium,Methylocystis sp. M,immobilized in calcium alginate

When Methylocystis sp. M cells were immobilized in calcium alginate, the resulting cell beads showed optimum trichloroethylene (TCE) degradation activity at pH 7.0 and 35°C. In comparison with free cells, the immobilized cells were more stable at low pH, and to some extent, at higher temperatures. Studies on the kinetics and the influence of cell density suggest that oxygen permeation was a rate-limiting step. Investigation of the storage stability and the optimum concentration of dissolved oxygen revealed that the TCE degradability was greater under anaerobic than aerobic conditions. Although a toxic effect caused by TCE was observed, methane seemed to restore activity, suggesting that the development of a two-step reactor system might be advantageous. The finding that the immobilized cells showed TCE degradation activity in actual groundwater suggests that TCE bioremediation could be achieved through the use of bioreactors with such cells.     

Product toxicity and cometabolic competitive inhibition modeling of chloroform and trichloroethylene transformation by methanotrophic resting cells

The rate and capacity for chloroform (CF) and trichloroethylene (TCE) transformation by a mixed methanotrophic culture of resting cells (no exogenous energy source) and formate-fed cells were measured. As reported previously for TCE, formate addition resulted in an increased CF transformation rate (0.35 day-1 for resting cells and 1.5 day-1 for formate-fed cells) and transformation capacity (0.0065 mg of CF per mg of cells for resting cells and 0.015 mg of CF per mg of cells for formate-fed cells), suggesting that depletion of energy stores affects transformation behavior. The observed finite transformation capacity, even with an exogenous energy source, suggests that toxicity was also a factor. CF transformation capacity was significantly lower than that for TCE, suggesting a greater toxicity from CF transformation. The toxicity of CF, TCE, and their transformation products to whole cells was evaluated by comparing the formate oxidation activity of acetylene-treated cells to that of non-acetylene-treated cells with and without prior exposure to CF or TCE. Acetylene arrests the activity of methane monooxygenase in CF and TCE oxidation without halting cell activity toward formate. Significantly diminished formate oxidation by cells exposed to either CR or TCE without acetylene compared with that with acetylene suggests that the solvents themselves were not toxic under the experimental conditions but their transformation products were. The concurrent transformation of CF and TCE by resting cells was measured, and results were compared with predictions from a competitive-inhibition cometabolic transformation model. The reasonable fit between model predictions and experimental observations was supportive of model assumptions.     

Product toxicity and cometabolic competitive inhibition modeling of chloroform and trichloroethylene transformation by methanotrophic resting cells.

The rate and capacity for chloroform (CF) and trichloroethylene (TCE) transformation by a mixed methanotrophic culture of resting cells (no exogenous energy source) and formate-fed cells were measured. As reported previously for TCE, formate addition resulted in an increased CF transformation rate (0.35 day-1 for resting cells and 1.5 day-1 for formate-fed cells) and transformation capacity (0.0065 mg of CF per mg of cells for resting cells and 0.015 mg of CF per mg of cells for formate-fed cells), suggesting that depletion of energy stores affects transformation behavior. The observed finite transformation capacity, even with an exogenous energy source, suggests that toxicity was also a factor. CF transformation capacity was significantly lower than that for TCE, suggesting a greater toxicity from CF transformation. The toxicity of CF, TCE, and their transformation products to whole cells was evaluated by comparing the formate oxidation activity of acetylene-treated cells to that of non-acetylene-treated cells with and without prior exposure to CF or TCE. Acetylene arrests the activity of methane monooxygenase in CF and TCE oxidation without halting cell activity toward formate. Significantly diminished formate oxidation by cells exposed to either CR or TCE without acetylene compared with that with acetylene suggests that the solvents themselves were not toxic under the experimental conditions but their transformation products were. The concurrent transformation of CF and TCE by resting cells was measured, and results were compared with predictions from a competitive-inhibition cometabolic transformation model. The reasonable fit between model predictions and experimental observations was supportive of model assumptions.     

Inhibition of trichloroethylene oxidation by the transformation intermediate carbon monoxide.

Inhibition of trichloroethylene (TCE) oxidation by the transformation intermediate carbon monoxide (CO) was evaluated with the aquifer methanotroph Methylomonas sp. strain MM2. CO was a TCE transformation intermediate. During TCE oxidation, approximately 9 mol% of the TCE was transformed to CO. CO was oxidized by Methylomonas sp. strain MM2, and when formate was provided as an electron donor, the CO oxidation rate doubled. The rate of CO oxidation without formate was 4.6 liter mg (dry weight)-1 day-1, and the rate with formate was 10.2 liter mg (dry weight)-1 day-1. CO inhibited TCE oxidation, both by exerting a demand for reductant and through competitive inhibition. The Ki for CO inhibition of TCE oxidation, 4.2 microM, was much less than the Ki for methane inhibition of TCE oxidation, 116 microM. CO also inhibited methane oxidation, and the degree of inhibition increased with increasing CO concentration. When CO was present, formate amendment was necessary for methane oxidation to occur and both substrates were simultaneously oxidized. CO at a concentration greater than that used in the inhibition studies was not toxic to Methylomonas sp. strain MM2.     

Inhibition of trichloroethylene oxidation by the transformation intermediate carbon monoxide

Inhibition of trichloroethylene (TCE) oxidation by the transformation intermediate carbon monoxide (CO) was evaluated with the aquifer methanotroph Methylomonas sp. strain MM2. CO was a TCE transformation intermediate. During TCE oxidation, approximately 9 mol% of the TCE was transformed to CO. CO was oxidized by Methylomonas sp. strain MM2, and when formate was provided as an electron donor, the CO oxidation rate doubled. The rate of CO oxidation without formate was 4.6 liter mg (dry weight)-1 day-1, and the rate with formate was 10.2 liter mg (dry weight)-1 day-1. CO inhibited TCE oxidation, both by exerting a demand for reductant and through competitive inhibition. The Ki for CO inhibition of TCE oxidation, 4.2 microM, was much less than the Ki for methane inhibition of TCE oxidation, 116 microM. CO also inhibited methane oxidation, and the degree of inhibition increased with increasing CO concentration. When CO was present, formate amendment was necessary for methane oxidation to occur and both substrates were simultaneously oxidized. CO at a concentration greater than that used in the inhibition studies was not toxic to Methylomonas sp. strain MM2.     

Highly enantioselective esterification of racemic ibuprofen in a packed bed reactor using immobilised Rhizomucor miehei lipase

A systematic study of the enantioselective resolution of ibuprofen by commercial Rhizomucor miehei lipase (Lipozyme(R) IM20) has been carried out using isooctane as solvent and butanol as esterificating agent. The main variables controlling the process (temperature, ibuprofen concentration, ratio butanol:ibuprofen) have been studied using an orthogonal full factorial experimental design, in which the selected objective function was enantioselectivity. This strategy has resulted in a polynomial function that describes the process. By optimizing this function, optimal conditions for carrying out the esterification of racemic ibuprofen have been determined. Under these conditions, enantiomeric excess and total conversion values were 93.8% and 49.9%, respectively, and the enantioselectivity was 113 after 112 h of reaction. These conditions have been considered in the design of a continuous reactor to scale up the process. The esterification of ibuprofen was properly described by pseudo first-order kinetics. Thus, a packed bed reactor operating as a plug-flow reactor (PFR) is the most appropriate in terms of minimizing the residence time compared with a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) to achieve the same final conversion. This reactor shows a similar behavior in terms of enantioselectivity, enantiomeric excess, and conversion when compared with batch reactors. A residence-time distribution (RTD) shows that the flow model is essentially a plug flow with a slight nonsymmetrical axial dispersion (Peclet number = 43), which was also corroborated by the model of CSTR in series. The stability of the system (up to 100 h) and the possibility of reutilization of the enzyme (up to four times) lead to consider this reactor as a suitable configuration for scale up of the process.     

Design of a biomedical reactor for plasma low-density lipoprotein removal

The purpose of this study was to design a biomedical reactor that reduces plasma cholesterol when incorporated in an in vivo extracorporeal system. Phospholipase A(2), immobilized onto Agarose beads and housed inside the bioreactor, modifies plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) into a form that is rapidly removed from circulation. In a packed bed reactor, the enzymatic conversion of LDL to the modified form (with plasma taken from hypercholesterolemic New Zealand white rabbits) was relatively low, 25% +/- 6 for a single pass of plasma through the reactor. An extended bed reactor, a hybrid of fluidized and packed bed reactors, was then developed to increase the conversion. This reactor displays a single pass conversion of 60% +/- 5 under optimal flow conditions. An evaluation of the flow rate through the reactor indicates that the system is limited by external mass transfer when employed under in vivo conditions. In addition, this system requires blood separation before the enzyme modification, which complicates the circuit control. Therefore, a new system was designed for in vivo use with rabbits. The resulting design, called the plasma separator reactor (PSR), combines plasma separation and enzymatic conversion in a single chamber. The PSR has three advantages over other studied systems: improved external mass transfer conditions, easy controlability, and simple set-up procedures. Single pass conversion reached 52% +/- 12 in suboptimal flow under simulated in vivo conditions. This reactor was also tested in vivo with hypercholesterolemic New Zealand white rabbits. A continuous conversion of up to 80% +/- 6 of rabbit plasma phospholipids was observed during 90 min of blood circulation (5 mL/min). The decrease in total plasma cholesterol reached a level of 60% of the initial value and was observed to be a function of the bioreactor enzyme activity. (c) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

甲烷利用细菌降解三氯乙烯的研究

GYJ3菌株细胞微细结构的电镜观察结果表明：它具有Ⅱ型甲烷利用细菌的特征,应归属于Ⅱ型菌。考察了Cu2+浓度、培养气相中甲烷浓度对菌株细胞中甲烷单加氧酶（EC1．14．13．25,简称MMO）活性的影响。结果表明,培养液中Cu2+浓度为1．5μmol／L,培养气相中甲烷：空气比为2∶1时,可溶性甲烷单加氧酶占细胞中MMO总量的95％。研究了GYJ3菌株细胞悬浮液降解三氯乙烯过程。实验结果表明,GYJ3菌株能够降解不同浓度的三氯乙烯,较高浓度的三氯乙烯对降解反应没有明最的抑制作用。加入甲酸盐作为电子给体能够提高三氯乙烯降解反应速率。实验中观察到GYJ3菌株降解三氯乙烯过程中反应速率随着反应的进行而下降,在三氯乙烯降解过程中三氯乙烯氧化产物是导致细胞失活的主要原因。实验室中测定了GYJ3菌株单位重量细胞降解三氯乙烯极限量,它可作为评价细菌降解三氯乙烯能力的重要指标。     

Evaluation of Toxic Effects of Aeration and Trichloroethylene Oxidation on Methanotrophic Bacteria Grown with Different Nitrogen Sources

In this study we evaluated specific and nonspecific toxic effects of aeration and trichloroethylene (TCE) oxidation on methanotrophic bacteria grown with different nitrogen sources (nitrate, ammonia, and molecular nitrogen). The specific toxic effects, exerted directly on soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO), were evaluated by comparing changes in methane uptake rates and naphthalene oxidation rates following aeration and/or TCE oxidation. Nonspecific toxic effects, defined as general cellular damage, were examined by using a combination of epifluorescent cellular stains to measure viable cell numbers based on respiratory activity and measuring formate oxidation activities following aeration and TCE transformation. Our results suggest that aeration damages predominantly sMMO rather than other general cellular components, whereas TCE oxidation exerts a broad range of toxic effects that damage both specific and nonspecific cellular functions. TCE oxidation caused sMMO-catalyzed activity and respiratory activity to decrease linearly with the amount of substrate degraded. Severe TCE oxidation toxicity resulted in total cessation of the methane, naphthalene, and formate oxidation activities and a 95% decrease in the respiratory activity of methanotrophs. The failure of cells to recover even after 7 days of incubation with methane suggests that cellular recovery following severe TCE product toxicity is not always possible. Our evidence suggests that generation of greater amounts of sMMO per cell due to nitrogen fixation may be responsible for enhanced TCE oxidation activities of nitrogen-fixing methanotrophs rather than enzymatic protection mechanisms associated with the nitrogenase enzymes.     

Biocatalytic dechlorination of trichloroethylene with bio-palladium in a pilot-scale membrane reactor

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a toxic and recalcitrant groundwater pollutant. An innovative technology using microbial produced Pd(0) nanoparticles for the remediation of TCE contaminated groundwater was developed. The nanoscale bio-Pd particles were precipitated on the biomass of Shewanella oneidensis and hydrogen gas, formate, or formic acid were used as hydrogen donors. Ethane turned out to be the only organic degradation product and no intermediate chlorinated reaction products were detected. Subsequently bio-Pd was implemented in a plate membrane reactor (MR) for the treatment of water containing TCE. In a continuous MR system, containing 50 mg L(-1) bio-Pd, removal rates up to 2,515 mg TCE day(-1) g(-1) Pd were achieved with H(2) gas as hydrogen donor. The measured chloride mass balance confirmed the removal rates. This work shows that a complete, efficient and rapid removal of TCE was achieved with bio-Pd and that a MR system containing bio-Pd and supplied with hydrogen gas offers an alternative for the current remediation technologies of water contaminated with TCE.     

Methane and Trichloroethylene Degradation by Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b Expressing Particulate Methane Monooxygenase

Whole-cell assays of methane and trichloroethylene (TCE) consumption have been performed on Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b expressing particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO). From these assays it is apparent that varying the growth concentration of copper causes a change in the kinetics of methane and TCE degradation. For M. trichosporium OB3b, increasing the copper growth concentration from 2.5 to 20 μM caused the maximal degradation rate of methane (V_max) to decrease from 300 to 82 nmol of methane/min/mg of protein. The methane concentration at half the maximal degradation rate (K_s) also decreased from 62 to 8.3 μM. The pseudo-first-order rate constant for methane, V_max/K_s, doubled from 4.9 × 10⁻³ to 9.9 × 10⁻³ liters/min/mg of protein, however, as the growth concentration of copper increased from 2.5 to 20 μM. TCE degradation by M. trichosporium OB3b was also examined with varying copper and formate concentrations. M. trichosporium OB3b grown with 2.5 μM copper was unable to degrade TCE in both the absence and presence of an exogenous source of reducing equivalents in the form of formate. Cells grown with 20 μM copper, however, were able to degrade TCE regardless of whether formate was provided. Without formate the V_max for TCE was 2.5 nmol/min/mg of protein, while providing formate increased the V_max to 4.1 nmol/min/mg of protein. The affinity for TCE also increased with increasing copper, as seen by a change in K_s from 36 to 7.9 μM. V_max/K_s for TCE degradation by pMMO also increased from 6.9 × 10⁻⁵ to 5.2 × 10⁻⁴ liters/min/mg of protein with the addition of formate. From these whole-cell studies it is apparent that the amount of copper available is critical in determining the oxidation of substrates in methanotrophs that are expressing only pMMO.     

High-rate conversion of methane to methanol by Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b

Methanol was produced from methane with a high conversion rate using a high cell density process with Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b in the presence of a high concentration of phosphate buffer. More than 1.1 g/L methanol accumulated in the reaction media under optimized reaction conditions (17 g dry cell/L, 400 mmol/L phosphate, and 10 mmol/L MgCl₂) in the presence of 20 mmol/L sodium formate. The conversion rate of methane was over 60%. About 0.95 g/L methanol was produced when the biotransformation was carried out in a membrane aerated reactor into which methane and oxygen were introduced via two separate dense silicone tubing. Our results provide an efficient method and a promising process for high-rate conversion of methane to methanol.     

The effect of oxygen on methanol oxidation by an obligate methanotrophic bacterium studied by in vivo 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

¹³C NMR was used to study the effect of oxygen on methanol oxidation by a type II methanotrophic bacterium isolated from a bioreactor in which methane was used as electron donor for denitrification. Under high (35–25%) oxygen conditions the first step of methanol oxidation to formaldehyde was much faster than the following conversions to formate and carbon dioxide. Due to this the accumulation of formaldehyde led to a poisoning of the cells. A more balanced conversion of ¹³C-labelled methanol to carbon dioxide was observed at low (1–5%) oxygen concentrations. In this case, formaldehyde was slowly converted to formate and carbon dioxide. Formaldehyde did not accumulate to inhibitory levels. The oxygen-dependent formation of formaldehyde and formate from methanol is discussed kinetically and thermodynamically. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2001) 26, 9–14. Received 04 March 2000/ Accepted in revised form 07 November 2000     

Rate limiting factors in trichloroethylene co-metabolic degradation by phenol-grown aerobic granules

The potential of aerobic granular sludge in co-metabolic removal of recalcitrant substances was evaluated using trichloroethylene (TCE) as the model compound. Aerobic granules cultivated in a sequencing batch reactor with phenol as the growth substrate exhibited TCE and phenol degradation activities lower than previously reported values. Depletion of reducing energy and diffusion limitation within the granules were investigated as the possible rate limiting factors. Sodium formate and citrate were supplied to the granules in batch studies as external electron sources. No significant enhancing effect was observed on the instant TCE transformation rates, but 10 mM formate could improve the ultimate transformation capacity by 26 %. Possible diffusion barrier was studied by sieving the biomass into five size fractions, and determining their specific TCE and phenol degradation rates and capacities. Biomass in the larger size fractions generally showed lower activities. Large granules of >700 μm diameter exhibited only 22 % of the flocs’ TCE transformation capacity and 35 % of its phenol dependent SOUR, indicating the possible occurrence of diffusion limitation in larger biomass. However, the highest specific TCE transformation rate was observed with the fraction that mostly consisted of small granules (150–300 μm), suggesting an optimal size range while applying aerobic granules in TCE co-metabolic removal.