Biodegradation of UV-irradiated polychlorinated biphenyls in surfactant micelles

• Published in: Water Science & Technology Vol. 38; no. 7; pp. 25 - 32
• Main Authors: Shi, Zhou, LaTorre, Keith A., Ghosh, Mriganka M., Layton, Alice C., Luna, Scott H., Bowles, Leslie, Sayler, Gary S.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York NY Elsevier Ltd 1998; Oxford Pergamon Press; IWA Publishing
• Subjects: Aerobic biodegradation; Applied sciences; Aroclor 1242; Biodegradability; Biodegradation; Biodegradation of pollutants; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Chlorination; Chlorine; Congeners; Decontamination. Miscellaneous; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gems; Genetic engineering; Genetically engineered microorganisms; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Irradiation; Micelles; microbial; Microorganisms; nonionic surfactants; PCB; PCB compounds; photodegradation; Photolysis; Pollution; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Polyoxyethylene; Population genetics; Population studies; Pseudomonas putida; Ralstonia eutropha; Soil and sediments pollution; solubilization; Solutions; Surfactants; Ultraviolet radiation; Biodegradation; nonionic surfactants; polychlorinated biphenyls; photodegradation; microbial; solubilization; Ultraviolet radiation; Decontamination; Non ionic surfactant; Chlorine Organic compounds; Micelle; Soil pollution; Polychlorobiphenyl; Photochemical degradation
• ISBN: 0080433944; 9780080433943
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.1016/S0273-1223(98)00603-9

Potential enhancement of biodegradability of commercial polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) mediated by photodechlorination was investigated. Used in tandem, photolysis and biodegradation of Aroclor 1242 (MW≈260), a commercial PCB mixture, dissolved in micellar solution of a nonionic surfactant, polyoxyethylene 10 lauryl ether (POL(10)), was studied. A mixed population of two genetically engineered microorganisms (GEMs), Pseudomonas putida IPL5∷TnPCB and Ralstonia eutropha B30P4∷TnPCB, was used for the aerobic biodegradation of POL (10) while cometabolizing Aroclor 1242. UV-irradiation at 254 nm for 40 minutes caused 63% degradation of Aroclor 1242 in a solution containing 210 mg/L of PCB congeners in 4 g/L POL(10). In the same period, 42% of the PCB chlorine appeared as chloride in solution. Gas chromatograms of UV-irradiated Aroclor 1242 solutions indicated that almost all biorecalcitrant PCB congeners, especially the highly chlorinated ones, were photolyzed. PCB GEMs removed an additional 30 mg/L (14.3%) of the PCBs in 96 hr from the UV-irradiated micellar PCB solution. Seemingly, the products of photolysis did not inhibit biodegradation of the remaining congeners or the surfactant.