Optimizing aerobic biodegradation of dichloromethane using response surface methodology

Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to evaluate the optimum aerobic biodegradation of dichloromethane (DCM) in pure culture. The parameters investigated include the initial DCM concentration, glucose as an inducer and hydrogen peroxide as terminal electron acceptor (TEA). Maximum aerobic biodegradation efficiency was predicted to occur when the initial DCM concentration was 380 mg/L, glucose 13.72 mg/L, and H2O2 115 mg/L. Under these conditions the aerobic biodegradation rate reached up to 93.18%, which was significantly higher than that obtained under original conditions. Without addition of glucose, degradation efficiencies were ≤ 80% at DCM concentrations < 326 mg/L. When concentrations of DCM were more than 480 mg/L, the addition of hydrogen peroxide did not help to significantly increase DCM degradation efficiency. When DCM concentrations increased from 240 to 480 mg/L, the overall DCM degradation efficiency decreased from 91% to 60% in the presence of H2O2 for 120 mg/L.