Non-conventional gas phase remediation of volatile halogenated compounds by dehydrated bacteria

Various treatments such as cell disruption by lysozyme or alkaline gas addition in the bio-filter could stabilise the dehalogenase activity of the bacteria. A pre-treatment of the dehydrated bacterial cells by ammonia vapour improved the stability of the catalyst and a removal activity of 0.9 μmol min−1 g−1 was then obtained for 60 h. Finally, the process was extended to a range of halogenated substrates including bromo- and chloro-substrates. It was shown that the removal capacity for long halogenated compounds (C5-C6) was greatly increased relative to traditional biological processes.