Role of quinones in the biodegradation of priority pollutants: a review

Evidence is accumulating that inert humic substances can play important roles in the anaerobic degradation of priority pollutants by shuttling electrons. This paper reviews the roles of humus and quinone analogues as electron accepters, redox mediators and electron donors for microbial and abiotic degradation processes. An eventual technology based on pumping quinones as terminal electron accepters into aquifers and sediments to stimulate xenobiotic degradation offers promising potential. Also quinone redox mediators can be considered to accelerate reductive transformations (e.g, dechlorination, azo cleavage) of priority pollutants.