Anaerobic oxidation of toluene, phenol, and p-cresol by the dissimilatory iron-reducing organism, GS-15

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (USA)

OSTI ID:6876998

Lovley, D R; Lonergan, D J ^[1]

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1. Geological Survey, Reston, VA (USA)

The dissimilatory Fe(III) reducer, GS-15, is the first microorganism known to couple the oxidation of aromatic compounds to the reduction of Fe(III) and the first example of a pure culture of any kind known to anaerobically oxidize an aromatic hydrocarbon, toluene. In this study, the metabolism of toluene, phenol, and p-cresol by GS-15 was investigated in more detail. GS-15 grew in an anaerobic medium with toluene as the sole electron donor and Fe(III) oxide as the electron acceptor. Growth coincided with Fe(III) reduction. (ring-{sup 14}C)toluene was oxidized to {sup 14}CO{sub 2}, and the stoichiometry of {sup 14}CO{sub 2} production and Fe(III) reduction indicated that GS-15 completely oxidized toluene to carbon dioxide with Fe(III) as the electron acceptor. Magnetite was the primary iron end product during toluene oxidation. Phenol and p-cresol were also completely oxidized to carbon dioxide with Fe(III) as the sole electron acceptor, and GS-15 could obtain energy to support growth by oxidizing either of these compounds as the sole electron donor. p-Hydroxybenzoate was a transitory extracellular intermediate of phenol and p-cersol metabolism but not of toluene metabolism. GS-15 oxidized potential aromatic intermediates in the oxidation of toluene (benzylalcohol and benzaldehyde) and p-cersol (p-hydroxybenzylalchol and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde). The metabolism described here provides a model for how aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols may be oxidized with the reduction of Fe(III) in contaminated aquifers and petroleum-containing sediments.

• OSTI ID: 6876998
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (USA), Journal Name: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (USA) Vol. 56:6; ISSN 0099-2240; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540211* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- Radiometric Techniques-- (1990-)
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
AROMATICS
BIODEGRADATION
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CRESOLS
DECOMPOSITION
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IRON COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
METABOLISM
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHENOL
PHENOLS
REDUCTION
SEDIMENTS
TOLUENE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS