Phthalate aerobic degradation

Aerobic degradation of diethyl phthalate by acclimated soil and activated sewage sludge microbes was studied using an acclimated shake flask CO2 evolution test. After 28 d, loss of diethyl phthalate (primary degradation) was >99%, with a lag phase of 2.3 d, and ultimate biodegradation (CO2 evolution) was 95%. The half-life was 2.21 d (Sugatt et al., 1984). 

Biological. Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate degraded in both amended and unamended calcareous soils from New Mexico. After 146 d, 76 to 93% degraded (mineralized) to carbon dioxide. No other metabolites were detected (Fairbanks et al, 1985). In a 56-d experiment, [ C]bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate applied to soil-water suspensions under aerobic and anaerobic conditions gave CO2 yields of 11.6 and 8.1%, respectively (Scheunert et al, 1987). 

The migration of PAEs from the polymers leads emissions to the environment during their production, transport, storage, manufacture, use, and disposal [8, 15, 40, 69]. Once in the different environmental compartments phthalates are subject to photo degradation, biodegradation, aerobic and anaerobic degradation and, thus, generally do not persist in the outdoor environment [8, 70]. 

Decarboxylation is an integral part of the pathway for degradation of o-phthalate—under both aerobic and denitrifying conditions (Section 6.7.3.1). The degradation of o-phthalate by P. fluorescens PHK takes place by initial dioxygenation and dehydrogenation to 4,5-dihydroxyphthalate followed by decarboxylation to 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (Pujar and Ribbons... 

In air, di- -butyl phthalate may be adsorbed to particulate matter or occur as a vapor. Di- -butyl phthalate is expected to decompose in the air, or be transported to water and/or soil by wet (snow or rain) or dry (wind and settling) deposition. Di- -butyl phthalate is taken up from water by a variety of aquatic organisms. In water and soil, di-n-butyl phthalate is subject to microbial degradation degradation in the presence (aerobic) and absence (anaerobic) of oxy gen has been reported. Exposure of the general population to di- -butyl phthalate may occur through contact with contaminated air, water, food, soil, and/ or products in which di- -butyl phthalate is intentionally incorporated. 

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