Open AccessDegradation of meta‐trifluoromethylbenzoate by sequential microbial and photochemical treatments
Author(s) -
Taylor Barrie F.,
Amador JoséA.,
Levinson Hillel S.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1993.tb06322.x
Subject(s) - benzoates , catabolism , chemistry , biodegradation , bacteria , benzyl benzoate , degradation (telecommunications) , metabolic intermediate , yield (engineering) , metabolism , trifluoromethyl , stereochemistry , biochemistry , organic chemistry , medicinal chemistry , biology , telecommunications , materials science , alkyl , computer science , metallurgy , genetics
m ‐ and p ‐trifluoromethyl (TFM)‐benzoates are completely degraded by aerobic bacteria that catabolize alkylbenzoates; biodegradation ceases after ring‐fission with the accumulation of a trifluoromethyl muconate semialdehyde (2‐hydroxy‐6‐oxo‐7,7,7‐trifluorohepta‐2,4‐dienoate, TFHOD) which is resistant to biochemical attack. A bacterium (Strain V‐1), isolated from sea‐water, grew aerobically on benzoate or m ‐toluate. Cells grown on benzoate or m ‐toluate oxidized both compounds at similar relative rates. Catabolism involved benzoate 1,2‐dioxygenase (decarboxylating) and meta ‐cleavage to yield muconate semialdehydes. Cells grown on benzoate metabolized m ‐TFM‐benzoate to TFHOD. The ring‐fission products from m ‐toluate and TFHOD were degraded by sunlight, and equimolar fluoride was released from TFHOD. Sequential biochemical and photochemical treatment allowed the destruction of m ‐TFM‐benzoate beyond the biochemically recalcitrant intermediate TFHOD.