Effects of six different functional groups and their position on the bacterial metabolism of monosubstituted phenols under anaerobic conditions

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effects of six different functional groups and their position on the bacterial metabolism of monosubstituted phenols under anaerobic conditions

AU - O'Connor, Owen A.

AU - Young, L. Y.

PY - 1996

Y1 - 1996

N2 - The biodegradability of phenol and all isomers of aminophenol (AP), chlorophenol (CP), hydroxybenzoate (HB), dihydroxybenzene (DHB), methylphenol (MP), and nitrophenol (IMP) were examined under denitrifying and methanogenic conditions. All isomers of CP and NP inhibited denitrification, while each NP isomer was reduced to AP under methanogenic conditions. All CPs were stoichiometrically mineralized to CH4. All AP isomers were mineralized under denitrifying conditions, while only the 4-AP isomer was biodegraded under methanogenic conditions. Under denitrifying conditions, the 1,3-DHB and 1,4-DHB isomers were mineralized, while the 1,2-DHB was persistent. 1,2-DHB was reductively dehydroxylated to phenol under methanogenic conditions. All MPs were mineralized under both anaerobic conditions. 2-MP incubated under methanogenic conditions and the 4-MP incubated under denitrifying conditions underwent methyl group oxidation to 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and 4-hydroxybenzoate, respectively. All HB isomers incubated under both anaerobic conditions produced stoichiometric quantities of N2 and CH4. These results suggest that the anaerobic condition and the nature of the substituent can influence the metabolism and toxicity of phenolic compounds.

AB - The biodegradability of phenol and all isomers of aminophenol (AP), chlorophenol (CP), hydroxybenzoate (HB), dihydroxybenzene (DHB), methylphenol (MP), and nitrophenol (IMP) were examined under denitrifying and methanogenic conditions. All isomers of CP and NP inhibited denitrification, while each NP isomer was reduced to AP under methanogenic conditions. All CPs were stoichiometrically mineralized to CH4. All AP isomers were mineralized under denitrifying conditions, while only the 4-AP isomer was biodegraded under methanogenic conditions. Under denitrifying conditions, the 1,3-DHB and 1,4-DHB isomers were mineralized, while the 1,2-DHB was persistent. 1,2-DHB was reductively dehydroxylated to phenol under methanogenic conditions. All MPs were mineralized under both anaerobic conditions. 2-MP incubated under methanogenic conditions and the 4-MP incubated under denitrifying conditions underwent methyl group oxidation to 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and 4-hydroxybenzoate, respectively. All HB isomers incubated under both anaerobic conditions produced stoichiometric quantities of N2 and CH4. These results suggest that the anaerobic condition and the nature of the substituent can influence the metabolism and toxicity of phenolic compounds.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/0029884488

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/0029884488#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1021/es9401961

DO - 10.1021/es9401961

M3 - Article

SN - 0013-936X

VL - 30

SP - 1419

EP - 1426

JO - Environmental Science and Technology

JF - Environmental Science and Technology

IS - 5

ER -