Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Degradation of polychlorinated biphenyl mixtures (Aroclors 1242, 1254, and 1260) by the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium as evidenced by congener-specific analysis

Journal Article · · Applied and Environmental Microbiology
OSTI ID:102598
; ;  [1]
  1. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States); and others

Evidence for substantial degradation of polychlorinated biphenyl mixtures Aroclor 1242, 1254, and 1260 by the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, based on cogener-specific gas chromatographic analysis, is presented. Maximal degradation (percent by weight) of Aroclors 1242, 1254, and 1260 was 60.9, 30.5, and 17.6%, respectively. Most of the congeners in Aroclors 1242 and 1254 were degraded extensively both in low-n (ligninolytic) as well as high-N (nonligninolytic) defined media. Even more extensive degradation of the congeners was observed in malt extract medium. Congeners with varying numbers of ortho, meta, and para chlorines were extensively degraded, indicating relative nonspecificity for the position of chlorine substitutions on the biphenyl ring. Aroclor 1260, which has not been conclusively shown to undergo aerobic microbial degradation, was shown to undergo substantial net degradation by P. chrysosporium. Maximal degradation of Aroclor 1260 was observed in malt extract medium (18.4% on a molar basis), in which most of the individual congeners were degraded. 19 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.

OSTI ID:
102598
Journal Information:
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Journal Name: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 61; ISSN AEMIDF; ISSN 0099-2240
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English