Anaerobic degradation of halogenated benzoic acids coupled to denitrification observed in a variety of sediment and soil samples

Denitrifying enrichment cultures utilizing monochlorinated benzoic acids as a carbon source were established using sediments and soils from a variety of sources as inocula. Enrichment cultures from most of the sites readily degraded 3- and 4-chlorobenzoate within 2-4 weeks. Upon refeeding, 3- and 4-chlorobenzoate were rapidly depleted, and stable denitrifying cultures were obtained by repeated dilution and refeeding of the substrates. 2-Chlorobenzoate, however, was only slowly metabolized and this activity was only observed in a few sites. Denitrifying consortia were maintained on either 3- or 4-chlorobenzoate as the sole source of carbon and energy and chlorobenzoate utilization was dependent on denitrification. These cultures were also capable of utilizing the corresponding brominated and iodinated benzoic acids, but the activity was specific to the position of the halogen substituent. Removal of halogen was stoichiometric, indicating that dehalogenation occurred at some step in metabolism.