Enzymatic dehalogenation of certain brominated and chlorinated compounds.

Complete reductive dehalogenation of brominated biphenyls by anaerobic microorganisms in sediment.

We sought to determine whether microorganisms from the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated sediment in Woods Pond (Lenox, Mass.) could dehalogenate brominated biphenyls. The PCB dechlorination specificities for the microorganisms in this sediment have been well characterized. This allowed us to compare the dehalogenation specificities for brominated biphenyls and chlorinated biphenyls w...

Dehalogenation of polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers using a hybrid bioinorganic catalyst.

The environmentally prevalent polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) #47 and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) #28 and #118 were challenged for 24 hours with a novel biomass-supported Pd catalyst (Bio-Pd(0)). Analysis of the products via GC-MS revealed the Bio-Pd(0) to cause the challenged compounds to undergo stepwise dehalogenation with preferential loss of the least sterically hindered halogen ...

Polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans: literature review and health assessment.

Polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PBDDs) and dibenzofurans (PBDFs) occur as trace (ppb) contaminants in brominated flame retardants and are produced during combustion of these chemicals. They are also formed when organics are incinerated in the presence of bromine, e.g., in municipal and industrial incinerators and in internal-combustion engines. Combustion of organics in the presence of both b...

Reductive dehalogenation of brominated phenolic compounds by microorganisms associated with the marine sponge Aplysina aerophoba.

Marine sponges are natural sources of brominated organic compounds, including bromoindoles, bromophenols, and bromopyrroles, that may comprise up to 12% of the sponge dry weight. Aplysina aerophoba sponges harbor large numbers of bacteria that can amount to 40% of the biomass of the animal. We postulated that there might be mechanisms for microbially mediated degradation of these halogenated ch...

Aplysina aerophoba Associated with the Marine Sponge Phenolic Compounds by Microorganisms Reductive Dehalogenation of Brominated