title: Degradation of organochlorine compounds in spent sulfite bleach plant effluents by actinomycetes.
abstract: Actinomycetes isolated from different soil samples were tested for their abilities to utilize spent sulfite bleach effluents from a paper mill. Degradation and dechlorination of the chlorinated compounds in the effluents of the first two bleaching stages, i.e., chlorination stage [(C + D)red.] and alkaline extraction stage (E1O), were monitored by determining total organic carbon (TOC) and activated-carbon-adsorbable organic-bound halogen (AOX). The isolates showed increased degradation rates after repeated incubations in the effluent-containing medium. Separation of the culture supernatants by ultrafiltration into three fractions of different molecular weights revealed substantial AOX and TOC reductions in the low-molecular-weight fraction. The AOX values of the higher-molecular-weight fractions were also reduced. Extracellular peroxidase and cell wall-bound catalase activities were produced during growth of the microorganisms on bleach effluents.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, ETH-Hönggerberg, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiechter
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
mesh_terms: D000192:Actinomycetales / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000378:metabolism*; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008031:Lignin / Q000378:metabolism*; D010209:Paper; D013447:Sulfites / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D007220:Industrial Waste; D013447:Sulfites; D002244:Carbon; D008031:Lignin