Xylene, biodegradative pathways

Enrichment factors during the anaerobic degradation of o-xylene, m-xylene, m-cresol, and p-cresol by pure cultures of sulfate-reducing bacteria that use the fumarate pathway ranged from -1.5 to -3.9 ppm (Morasch et al. 2004). It was therefore proposed that this could be applied to evaluating in situ bioremediation of contaminants that use this pathway for biodegradation. 

Benzoic acid, a common food preservative, may be a suitable substrate to achieve biostimulation. It is a relatively inexpensive, harmless aromatic compound that has been previously used in analogue enrichment1 schemes to enhance biodegradation of the aromatic herbicide, 2,3,6-trichlorobenzoic acid (2,3,6-TBA) [336]. Benzoate ion is also an intermediate in the toluene pathway and it can induce related enzymes involved in the degradation of toluene and m-and p-xylenes [336]. In addition, the anionic nature of benzoic acid would minimize its retardation and facilitate its distribution when injected into an... 

Baibieri, R, Palladino, L., Gennaro, P.D., Galli, E. 1993. Alternative pathways for o-xylene orm-xylene andp-xylene degradation in a Pseudomonas stutzeri strain. Biodegradation 4 (2) 71-80. 

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