Simultaneous biodegradation of phenol and carbon tetrachloride mediated by humic acids

Biodegradation. 2012 Sep;23(5):635-44. doi: 10.1007/s10532-012-9539-8. Epub 2012 Feb 7.

Abstract

The capacity of an anaerobic sediment to achieve the simultaneous biodegradation of phenol and carbon tetrachloride (CT) was evaluated, using humic acids (HA) as redox mediator. The presence of HA in sediment incubations increased the rate of biodegradation of phenol and the rate of dehalogenation (2.5-fold) of CT compared to controls lacking HA. Further experiments revealed that the electron-accepting capacity of HA derived from different organic-rich environments was not associated with their reducing capacity to achieve CT dechlorination. The collected kinetic data suggest that the reduction of CT by reduced HA was the rate-limiting step during the simultaneous biodegradation of phenol and CT. To our knowledge, the present study constitutes the first demonstration of the simultaneous biodegradation of two priority pollutants mediated by HA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anaerobiosis
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Carbon Tetrachloride / chemistry
  • Carbon Tetrachloride / metabolism*
  • Electrons
  • Halogenation
  • Humic Substances / analysis*
  • Kinetics
  • Phenol / chemistry
  • Phenol / metabolism*
  • Soil Pollutants / isolation & purification
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Humic Substances
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Phenol
  • Carbon Tetrachloride