title: Degradation of 3-chlorobenzoate by thermophilic micro-organisms.
abstract: Thermophilic (75 degrees C), anaerobic biodegradation of chlorobenzoates was investigated using different inocula from geothermal and non-geothermal environments. Microbial dehalogenation of 3-chlorobenzoate (0.5 mmol l-1 was achieved by two mixed cultures growing anaerobically at 75 degrees C. One culture consisted of a facultative anaerobe and two obligate anaerobes, one of which was a methanogen, isolated from terrestrial sediments from hot springs in New Zealand. The other culture, derived from a non-geothermal environment, consisted of a Clostridium spp. and a non-spore-forming obligate anaerobe. No degradation of either 2-chlorobenzoate or 4-chlorobenzoate was achieved by these thermophilic cultures over the same time period. This is the first reported biotransformation of this chlorinated aromatic at a temperature of 75 degrees C.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, Salisbury, Wilts, UK.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Maloney
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Sharp
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002723:Chlorobenzoates / Q000378:metabolism*; D003013:Clostridium / Q000378:metabolism; D019605:Euryarchaeota / Q000378:metabolism; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D002723:Chlorobenzoates; C036427:3-chlorobenzoic acid