Biodegradation of clofibric acid and identification of its metabolites

J Hazard Mater. 2012 Nov 30:241-242:182-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.09.029. Epub 2012 Sep 24.

Abstract

Clofibric acid (CLF) is the pharmaceutically active metabolite of lipid regulators clofibrate, etofibrate and etofyllinclofibrate, and it is considered both environmentally persistent and refractory. This work studied the biotransformation of CLF in aerobic sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) with mixed microbial cultures, monitoring the efficiency of biotransformation of CLF and the production of metabolites. The maximum removal achieved was 51% biodegradation (initial CLF concentration=2 mg L(-1)), where adsorption and abiotic removal mechanisms were shown to be negligible, showing that CLF is indeed biodegradable. Tests showed that the observed CLF biodegradation was mainly carried out by heterotrophic bacteria. Three main metabolites were identified, including α-hydroxyisobutyric acid, lactic acid and 4-chlorophenol. The latter is known to exhibit higher toxicity than the parent compound, but it did not accumulate in the SBRs. α-Hydroxyisobutyric acid and lactic acid accumulated for a period, where nitrite accumulation may have been responsible for inhibiting their degradation. A metabolic pathway for the biodegradation of CLF is proposed in this study.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Aerobiosis
  • Autotrophic Processes
  • Bacteria, Aerobic / growth & development
  • Bacteria, Aerobic / isolation & purification
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Biomass
  • Biotransformation
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Clofibric Acid / isolation & purification
  • Clofibric Acid / metabolism*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Molecular Structure
  • Wastewater / analysis*
  • Wastewater / microbiology*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / isolation & purification
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / metabolism*
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Waste Water
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Clofibric Acid