Bioremediation of river sediment polluted with polychlorinated biphenyls: A laboratory study

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are lipophilic, constant and bioaccumulative toxic compounds. In general, they considered resistant to biological, photolytic, chemical degradation with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) belonging these chemicals. PCBs were never produced in Serbia, but imported mainly used electrical equipment, transformers, capacitors. Our study aimed analyse sequential multi-stage aerobic/anaerobic microbial biodegradation of present the river sediment from area known for long-term pollution The an autochthonous natural community (NMC model system) NMC augmented allochthonous hydrocarbon-degrading (AHD) microorganisms (isolated location contaminated petroleum products) (NMC-AHD was performed order estimate potential possible use future bioremediation treatment sites. laboratory lasted 70 days, after which overall >33 % reduction concentration total observed. This confirmed strong level under alternating conditions.