Authors: Bin Cao Karthiga Nagarajan KaiChee Loh
Publish Date: 2009/09/03
Volume: 85, Issue: 2, Pages: 207-228
Abstract
Biodegradation can achieve complete and costeffective elimination of aromatic pollutants through harnessing diverse microbial metabolic processes Aromatics biodegradation plays an important role in environmental cleanup and has been extensively studied since the inception of biodegradation These studies however are diverse and scattered there is an imperative need to consolidate summarize and review the current status of aromatics biodegradation The first part of this review briefly discusses the catabolic mechanisms and describes the current status of aromatics biodegradation Emphasis is placed on monocyclic polycyclic and chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons because they are the most prevalent aromatic contaminants in the environment Among monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons benzene toluene ethylbenzene and xylene phenylacetic acid and structurally related aromatic compounds are highlighted In addition biofilms and their applications in biodegradation of aromatic compounds are briefly discussed In recent years various biomolecular approaches have been applied to design and understand microorganisms for enhanced biodegradation In the second part of this review biomolecular approaches their applications in aromatics biodegradation and associated biosafety issues are discussed Particular attention is given to the applications of metabolic engineering protein engineering and “omics” technologies in aromatics biodegradation
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