Decontaminating soil with enzymes

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Environmental Science and Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00034a002· OSTI ID:6716886

Bollag, J M ^[1]

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1. Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)

Xenobiotics are manmade compounds often introduced into the environment at concentrations that cause undesirable effects. They can be transformed as a result of biotic and abiotic processes, leading to changes in their chemical state and ultimately in their toxicity and reactivity. Ideally, xenobiotics are transformed into carbon dioxide, water, and mineral elements. However, many of them are converted to intermediate products that can be as toxic as or more so than their parent compounds. This article focuses on the complexation of organic xenobiotics with humic material in aquatic or terrestrial environments. The information presented here focuses on the mechanism by which halogenated phenols and anilines are bound to humic material and the chemical nature of these bound residues. Data on the toxicity and ultimate stability of bound chemicals is also presented. Studies indicate that enzymatic coupling is a promising method for detoxification of environments contaminated with xenobiotics. 33 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6716886
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States) Vol. 26:10; ISSN ESTHAG; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AMINES
ANILINE
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DETOXIFICATION
ENZYMES
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HUMIC ACIDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
HYDROXYLASES
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PEROXIDASES
PHENOLS
POLLUTION
PROTEINS
SOILS
TYROSINASE