A bacterium (strain HL1) capable of growing with hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) as sole carbon and energy sources was isolated from a mixture of soil contaminated with HCBD and activated sludge obtained from petrochemical plant wastewater treatment plant by using enrichment culture. Biochemical characteristics and phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA sequence indicate that strain HL1 clearly belongs to Serratia marcescens sp. Resting cells of strain HL1 were found to remove HCBD from culture fluids with the concomitant release of chloride ion under aerobic conditions. The ranges of pH value and temperature for satisfactory growth of strain HL1 cells were from 7.0 to 8.0 and 25 to 30 degrees C, respectively. Capability of resting cells to degrade HCBD was induced by HCBD in the culture fluids. HCBD (20 mg/l) was removed from culture fluids by resting cells in 4 d without lag phase, but for 50 mg/l and 80 mg/l HCBD 7 days were needed with lag phase. Growth of strain HL1 cells was inhibited by HCBD at the concentration up to 160 mg/l. First order kinetics could be fitted to the biodegradation of HCBD by HL1 cells after lag phase at initial concentrations of 20, 50, and 80 mg/l. Strain HL1 also showed strong capacity to degrade chloroprene, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, and vinyl chloride at solely initial concentration of 50 mg/l. Results could offer useful information for the application of strain HL1 in bioremediation or control of HCBD-polluted environment. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.