A review in the current developments of genus Dehalococcoides, its consortia and kinetics for bioremediation options of contaminated groundwater

This article reviews the current developments in genus Dehalococcoides as key dechlorinating bacteria in chlorinated ethene contaminated sites. The presence of chlorinated ethenes in environment had been a concern for more than five decades as it represents significant threat to human and ecological health due to its extreme toxicity. This review elucidates the kinetics of Dehalococcoides spp. growth and compound utilization in dechlorination of chlorinated ethenes compounds. The metabolic pathways in physiology of Dehalococcoides spp. are important in the transformation of chlorinated species. The potential of isolates and its reductive dehalogenase genes are seen to infer activities of Dehalococcoides spp. that would be used to the development of engineered systems. This system is helpful in making decision on bioremediation option to treat the contaminated groundwater. Hence, the role of Dehalococcoides spp. in chlorinated ethene biodegradation is controlled by kinetics in complex ways. Therefore, intensive in-situ characterization and understanding the microbial growth on dechlorination evaluation are essential to develop a consistent and rational engineered system. This is to achieve a successful bioremediation strategies for sites contaminated with chlorinated ethenes.