Chlorinated ethenes such as perchloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE), 1,2-cis-dichloroethene (cis-DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC) are among the most widespread organochlorine pollutants globally. Several cultures exist harbouring Dehalococcoides species capable of reductive dechlorination of these contaminants. In 2012 Novorem was given exclusive rights to supply a mixed species culture capable of transforming PCE to ethene. Known as AusPCE this culture originates from sediments sampled from the Botany Sands Aquifer and contains Dehalococcoides species carrying the tceA and vcrA reductases required to avoid cis-DCE or VC stall.
AusPCE is the first chlorinated ethene reducing culture produced in Australia and was the first organochlorine respiring culture deployed commercially on the Australian continent. If you have chlorinated ethenes contaminating your groundwater and you don’t have the right Dehalococcoides present at the right abundance, bioaugmentation with AusPCE to catalyse biodegradation is an excellent remediation option.
