Degradation of PCB by Bacteria Isolated from Long-Time Contaminated Soil

Abstract

Four bacterial isolates belonging to the genera Pseudomonas and Alcaligenes were obtained by the enrichment method, using biphenyl as the sole carbon source, from the soil, which underwent long-time contamination with technical mixtures of PCB. Kinetics of PCB degradation by individual isolates was measured using n-hexane extraction of the cultivation media in proper time intervals and analysed by congener specific gas chromatography with electron capture detection. All isolates exhibit interesting biodegradative potential. Specific degradation of individual congeners with respect to the number and position of chlorine substituents is discussed. The influence of glucose, biphenyl and 3-chlorobenzoic acid on the PCB degradation has been assessed.