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Microbial Degradation of Xenobiotics pp 67–99Cite as

Microbial Styrene Degradation: From Basics to Biotechnology

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Part of the book series: Environmental Science and Engineering ((ESE))

Abstract

Styrene, the simplest representative of alkenylbenzenes, is one of the most important monomers produced by the chemical industry today. The compound shows a distinct toxicological behavior and is classified as a possible carcinogen due to its metabolism in human via a highly mutagenic epoxide. Considerable amounts of styrene are released by emissions and effluents during production and usage in polymer manufacture and by deposition of industrial wastes. A high chemical reactivity as well as its natural occurrence are reasons for the ubiquitous presence of styrene-catabolic activities among microorganisms. Rapid breakdown of styrene occurs in soils and aquifers under aerobic as well as under anaerobic conditions. As a consequence, styrene can be classified as readily biodegradable. Furthermore, a high volatility and susceptibility to photooxidation prevent bioaccumulation of styrene.

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Acknowledgment

The authors are grateful to the team of the Department Environmental Microbiology, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, under supervision of Prof. Michael Schlömann for substantial and critical discussion. A special thank is dedicated to Janosch Gröning for his unremitting assistance. The corresponding author was supported by two predoctoral fellowships from Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) and Fulbright.

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  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Environmental Microbiology, TU Bergakademie Freiberg. Leipziger Str. 29, 09599, Freiberg, Germany

    Dirk Tischler & Stefan R. Kaschabek

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  1. Dirk Tischler
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  2. Stefan R. Kaschabek
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Correspondence to Dirk Tischler .

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  1. , Environmental Science Division, National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg., Lucknow, 226001, India

    Shree Nath Singh

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Tischler, D., Kaschabek, S.R. (2012). Microbial Styrene Degradation: From Basics to Biotechnology. In: Singh, S. (eds) Microbial Degradation of Xenobiotics. Environmental Science and Engineering(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-23789-8_3

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