Biodegradability of pollutants

Anaerobic processes are now known to be much more diverse in biodegradation of pollutants than was thought even a few years ago. Anaerobic bioremediation of nitro-substituted compounds, halogenated molecules, and even hydrocarbons now appears possible, employing electron acceptors such as nitrate, halogenated... 

Competition from other organisms may be a factor in biodegradation of pollutants. Grazing by protozoa may result in consumption of bacterial cells responsible for the biodegradation of particular compounds. 

Natural attenuation by itself, however, often is not sufficient to achieve a desired extent or rate of contaminant removal from an aquifer. In these instances, one remedial option may be to enhance the natural rate of biodegradation of pollutant chemicals in the aquifer. This strategy, called in situ bioremediation, is considered to be one of the most attractive remedial techniques from a cost perspective, because many of the high costs associated with pumping and treating groundwater or excavating contaminated aquifer material are avoided. Furthermore, the potential exposure of cleanup workers to pollutant chemicals is reduced if many of the contaminants are mineralized while still in the aquifer. 

General Strategies in the Biodegradation of Pollutants Thomas W. Egli... 

The same process acts in the biodegradation of pollutant chemicals in the hydrosphere. 

Another important aspect of the toxicological chemistry of water pollutants involves biotransformations and biodegradation of pollutants. Some of the compounds found as markers of water... 

The immobilization of biofilms on permeable membranes, for the biodegradation of pollutants has drawn increasing interest for applications, where conventional treatment technologies are difficult to apply. As one of such examples, Hu et al. demonstrated the usefulness of membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) for the wastewater treatment [16] a carbon-membrane aerated biofilm reactor (CMABR) was constmcted to remove organics and nitrogen containing compounds simultaneously in one reactor. 

Models of chemical reactions of trace pollutants in groundwater must be based on experimental analysis of the kinetics of possible pollutant interactions with earth materials, much the same as smog chamber studies considered atmospheric photochemistry. Fundamental research could determine the surface chemistry of soil components and processes such as adsorption and desorption, pore diffusion, and biodegradation of contaminants. Hydrodynamic pollutant transport models should be upgraded to take into account chemical reactions at surfaces. 

Stasinakis AS, Thomaidis NS, Nikoiaou A, Kantifes A (2005) Aerobic biodegradation of organotin compounds in activated siudge batch reactors. Environmental Pollution, 134(3) 431-438. 

Kuritz T, CP Wolk (1995) Use of filamentous cyanobacteria for biodegradation of organic pollutants. Appl... 

Vainberg S, K McClay, H Masuda, D Root, C Condee, GJ Zylstra, RJ Steffan (2006) Biodegradation of ether pollutants by Pseudonocardia sp. strain ENV478. Appl Environ Microbiol 72 5218-5224. 

Morgan P, ST Lewis, RJ Watkinson (1993) Biodegradation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes in gas-condensate-contaminated water. Environ Pollut 82 181-190. 

Sandrin, T. and Maier, R., Impact of metals on the biodegradation of organic pollutants, Environ Health Perspect, 111 (8), 1093-1101, 2003. 

A biological process developed by Wang and colleagues57 does not cause air pollution problems and is highly efficient for the biodegradation of organics present in water. 

Corti A, Frassinetti S, Vallini G, D Antone S, Fichi C, Solaro R (1995) Biodegradation of nonionic surfactants. I. Biotransformation of 4-(l-nonyl)phenol by a Candida maltosa isolate. Environ Pollut 90 83-87... 

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