Abstract
Rapid and preferential dechlorination of the ortho chlorine from 2,6-, 2,4- and 2,3- dichlorophenol substrates was observed in semi-continuous cultures inoculated with 50% unacclimated anaerobic sludge. The rate of further dechlorination depended on the position of the second chlorine atom. The dechlorination rates for the second chlorine ranked ortho > para > meta. Complete mineralization to methane was only observed in cultures fed 2,6-dichlorophenol. Addition of activated carbon to the anaerobic cultures showed some benefit to the degradation process.
