MICROBIAL-DEGRADATION OF PENTACHLOROPHENOL

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) was the most prevalent wood preservative for m any years worldwide. Its widespread use had led to contamination of va rious environments. Traditional methods of PCP clean-up include storag e in land-fill sites, incineration and abiotic degradation processes s uch as photodecomposition. Some aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms c an degrade PCP under a variety of conditions. Axenic bacterial culture s, Flavobacterium sp., Rhodococcus sp., Arthrobacter sp., Pseudomonas sp., Sphingomonas sp., and Mycobacterium sp., and fungal cultures, Pha nerochaete sp. and Trametes sp. exhibit varying rates and extent of PC P degradation. This paper provides some general information on propert ies of PCP and reviews the influence of nutrient amendment, temperatur e and pH on PCP degradation by various aerobic and anaerobic microorga nisms. Where information is available, proposed degradation pathways, intermediates and enzymes are reviewed.