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Degradation of Pentachlorophenol in Soil, and by Soil Microorganisms

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Pentachlorophenol

Part of the book series: Environmental Science Research ((ESRH,volume 12))

Abstract

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) readily degrades in the environment by chemical, microbiological and photochemical processes. Degradation in soil is affected by numerous chemical, physical and biological factors. PCP degrades more rapidly in flooded or anaerobic soil than in aerobic moist soil. Several pathways of degradation have been identified. The degradation of PCP in soil is primarily by reductive dehalogenation to simpler tetra-, tri-, and dichlorophenols. Methylation of PCP to pentachloroanisole and liberation of 14CO2 from 14C-PCP have also been observed. Isolated soil microorganisms metabolize 14C-PCP by methylation, dehalogenation, and ring cleavage with ultimate conversion of the 14C to 14CO2 and normal 14C-cell constituents.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beltsville Agricultural Research Center — West, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Pesticide Degradation Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, 20705, USA

    Donald D. Kaufman

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  1. Donald D. Kaufman
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida, USA

    K. Ranga Rao

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© 1978 Plenum Press, New York

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Kaufman, D.D. (1978). Degradation of Pentachlorophenol in Soil, and by Soil Microorganisms. In: Rao, K.R. (eds) Pentachlorophenol. Environmental Science Research, vol 12. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-8948-8_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-8948-8_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-8950-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-8948-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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