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Title: Evidence for para dechlorination of polychlorobiphenyls by methanogenic bacteria

Abstract

When microorganisms eluted from upper Hudson River sediment were cultured without any substrate except polychlorobiphenyl (PCB)-free Hudson River sediment, methane formation was the terminal step of the anaerobic food chain. In sediments containing Aroclor 1242, addition of eubacterium-inhibiting antibiotics, which should have directly inhibited fermentative bacteria and thereby should have indirectly inhibited methanogens, resulted in no dechlorination activity or methane production. However, when substrates for methanogenic bacteria were provided along with the antibiotics (to free the methanogens from dependence on eubacteria), concomitant methane production and dechlorination of PCBs were observed. The dechlorination of Aroclor 1242 was from the para positions, a pattern distinctly different from, and more limited than, the pattern observed with untreated or pasteurized inocula. Both methane production and dechlorination in cultures amended with antibiotics plus methanogenic substrates were inhibited by 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid. These results suggest that the methanogenic bacteria are among the physiological groups capable of anaerobic dechlorination of PCBs, but that the dechlorination observed with methanogenic bacteria is less extensive than the dechlorination observed with more complex anaerobic consortia. 27 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.

Authors:
; ;  [1]
  1. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States); and others
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
98638
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 61; Journal Issue: 6; Other Information: PBD: Jun 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, BASIC STUDIES; METHANOGENIC BACTERIA; BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS; POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS; DECHLORINATION

Citation Formats

Ye, D, Quensen, J F, and Tiedje, J M. Evidence for para dechlorination of polychlorobiphenyls by methanogenic bacteria. United States: N. p., 1995. Web.
Ye, D, Quensen, J F, & Tiedje, J M. Evidence for para dechlorination of polychlorobiphenyls by methanogenic bacteria. United States.
Ye, D, Quensen, J F, and Tiedje, J M. 1995. "Evidence for para dechlorination of polychlorobiphenyls by methanogenic bacteria". United States.
@article{osti_98638,
title = {Evidence for para dechlorination of polychlorobiphenyls by methanogenic bacteria},
author = {Ye, D and Quensen, J F and Tiedje, J M},
abstractNote = {When microorganisms eluted from upper Hudson River sediment were cultured without any substrate except polychlorobiphenyl (PCB)-free Hudson River sediment, methane formation was the terminal step of the anaerobic food chain. In sediments containing Aroclor 1242, addition of eubacterium-inhibiting antibiotics, which should have directly inhibited fermentative bacteria and thereby should have indirectly inhibited methanogens, resulted in no dechlorination activity or methane production. However, when substrates for methanogenic bacteria were provided along with the antibiotics (to free the methanogens from dependence on eubacteria), concomitant methane production and dechlorination of PCBs were observed. The dechlorination of Aroclor 1242 was from the para positions, a pattern distinctly different from, and more limited than, the pattern observed with untreated or pasteurized inocula. Both methane production and dechlorination in cultures amended with antibiotics plus methanogenic substrates were inhibited by 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid. These results suggest that the methanogenic bacteria are among the physiological groups capable of anaerobic dechlorination of PCBs, but that the dechlorination observed with methanogenic bacteria is less extensive than the dechlorination observed with more complex anaerobic consortia. 27 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/98638}, journal = {Applied and Environmental Microbiology},
number = 6,
volume = 61,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995},
month = {Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995}
}