Removal of aromatic and nitroaromatic compound pollutants from the environment by bacteria and plant

Abstract EN

Global contamination by aromatic and nitro aromatic compounds is well documented and merits attention because of their toxicity, carcinogenecity, and resistance to biodegradation.

Because of its toxicity, nitrobenezene is listed as a priority pollutant by the U.S.

Environmental protection Agency.

Many bacteria that utilize aromatic and nitro aromatic compounds as the source of carbon and energy have been isolated and there is growing interest in the enhancement of microbial degradative activities as an effective means of removing aromatic compound pollutants from the environment.

Certain strains of Pseudomonas and fungi can use 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) as a nitrogen source through the removal of nitrogen as nitrite from TNT under aerobic conditions and the further reduction of the released nitrite to ammonium, which is incorporated into carbon skeletons.

Most if not all aerobic microorganisms reduce TNT to the corresponding amino derivatives via the formation of nitroso and hydroxylamine intermediates.

Considerable progress has been made in the last few decades in understanding the mechanisms of bacterial degradation of aromatic and nitro aromatic compounds.

There is growing interest in developing microbiological methods for clean-up of soil and water contaminated with these compounds.

Phytoremediation is a promising technology using plants to clean-up contaminated soil and ground water in situ because of low cost of maintenance and operation, and public acceptance.

The transformation products of xenobiotics by plans are less toxic than parent compounds.

This review will focus on the biodegradation and biotransformation pathways that have been established for aromatic compounds and some nitroaromatic compounds.