Microorganisms biodegradation

Watkinson, R.J. Morgan, P. (1990). Physiology of aliphatic hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms. Biodegradation, 1, 79-92. 

In water, soil, and sediments, besides physical and chemical reactions, the enzymatic biological activity, mainly due to microorganisms (biodegradation) plays a relevant role. 

The following terms and concepts apply to the metabolic processes by which microorganisms biodegrade hazardous waste substances ... 

Tests in pure water, river water, and activated sludge showed that commercial ttiaryl phosphates and alkyl diphenyl phosphates undergo reasonably facile degradation by hydrolysis and biodegradation (163—165). The phosphonates can undergo biodegradation of the carbon-to-phosphoms bond by certain microorganisms (166,167). 

Poly-P-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a biodegradable thermoplastic that is produced by several microorganism. The PHB synthesis has been characterized eutrophus and the operon iavolved ia PHB productioa has beea cloaed. Recombiaant E. coli straias that can produce high levels of... 

CometaboHsm refers to situations where a compound caimot be biodegraded effectively unless another food source is available. The recalcitrant compound, such as TCE, does not provide the energy to allow the microorganisms to grow and thrive. When another food source is available such as... 

Environmental. In general, chlorinated paraffins biodegrade the rate is determined by chlorine content and carbon chain length. Microorganisms previously acclimatized to specific chlorinated paraffins show a greater ability to degrade the compounds than nonacclimatized organisms. Mammals and fish have been shown to metabolize chlorinated paraffins (8). 

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