Bioremediation of polynitrated aromatic compounds: plants and microbes put up a fight.
Industrialization and the quest for a more comfortable lifestyle have led to increasing amounts of pollution in the environment. To address this problem, several biotechnological applications aimed at removing this pollution have been investigated. Among these pollutants are xenobiotic compounds such as polynitroaromatic compounds--recalcitrant chemicals that are degraded slowly. Whereas 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) can be mineralized and converted into carbon dioxide, nitrite and water, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is more recalcitrant--although several microbes can use it as a nitrogen source. The most effective in situ biotreatments for TNT are the use of bioslurry (which can be preceded by an abiotic step) and phytoremediation. Phytoremediation can be enhanced by using transgenic plants alone or together with microbes.
Ramos
Juan L
JL
Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Apdo Correos 419, E-18008 Granada, Spain. jlramos@eez.csic.es
González-Pérez
M Mar
MM
Caballero
Antonio
A
van Dillewijn
Pieter
P
D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000378:metabolism; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014303:Trinitrotoluene / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010851:Picrates; D014303:Trinitrotoluene; C005858:picric acid; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase