Open AccessAnaerobic degradation of halogenated benzoic acids coupled to denitrification observed in a variety of sediment and soil samples
Author(s) -
Häggblom Max M.,
Rivera Maria D.,
Young Lily Y.
Publication year - 1996
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.1574-6968.1996.tb08533.x
Subject(s) - environmental chemistry , sediment , degradation (telecommunications) , denitrification , anaerobic exercise , benzoic acid , chemistry , biodegradation , environmental science , organic chemistry , geology , nitrogen , biology , physiology , paleontology , telecommunications , computer science
Denitrifying enrichment cultures utilizing monochlorinated benzoic acids as a carbon source were established using sediments and soils from a variety of sources as inocula. Enrichment cultures from most of the sites readily degraded 3‐ and 4chlorobenzoate within 2–4 weeks. Upon refeeding, 3‐ and 4‐chlorobenzoate were rapidly depleted, and stable denitrifying cultures were obtained by repeated dilution and refeeding of the substrates. 2‐Chlorobenzoate, however, was only slowly metabolized and this activity was only observed in a few sites. Denitrifying consortia were maintained on either 3‐ or 4chlorobenzoate as the sole source of carbon and energy and chlorobenzoate utilization was dependent on denitrification. These cultures were also capable of utilizing the corresponding brominated and iodinated benzoic acids, but the activity was specific to the position of the halogen substituent. Removal of halogen was stoichiometric, indicating that dehalogenation occurred at some step in metabolism.