Aerobic Metabolism of Trichloroethylene by a Bacterial Isolate

A number of soil and water samples were screened for the biological capacity to metabolize trichloroethylene. One water sample was found to contain this capacity, and a gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium which appeared to be responsible for the metabolic activity was isolated from this sample. The isolate degraded trichloroethylene to CO₂ and unidentified, nonvolatile products. Oxygen and water from the original site of isolation were required for degradation.