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Microbial Transformation of 1,2‐Dibromo‐3‐Chloropropane (DBCP)
Author(s) -
Bloom Raanan A.,
Alexander Martin
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1990.00472425001900040015x
Subject(s) - biodegradation , chemistry , environmental chemistry , subsoil , microorganism , pollutant , pseudomonas putida , groundwater , bacteria , aquifer , pesticide , soil water , organic chemistry , ecology , biology , genetics , geotechnical engineering , engineering , enzyme
A once widely used nematicide that is now banned, 1,2‐dibromo‐3‐chloropropane (DBCP), persists in groundwaters and is a significant pollutant in some water supplies. A study was conducted to determine whether a means for the biodegradation of this persistent compound could be devised. DBCP was not converted to organic products, halide, or CO 2 in unamended samples of soil, subsoil material, or groundwaters in 60 d, and no microorganism could be isolated that was able to use the compound as a C source for growth. However, cell suspensions of Pseudomonas putida and of bacteria grown in solutions containing chlorinated fatty acids or 3‐chloro‐1‐propanol cometabolized DBCP in the presence of O 2 with the formation of halide but not CO 2 . Pseudomonas putida had the greatest activity. DBCP was also converted aerobically to organic products and CO 2 by soil suspensions incubated with methane. The compound was also converted anaerobically to organic products but not CO 2 in suspensions of soil, but no anaerobic transformation was observed in samples of groundwater or aquifer solids. We suggest that biological treatment may be used as a means to destroy this pollutant.