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Degradation and Biotransformation of Pentachlorophenol by Microorganisms

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Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability Approaches

Abstract

Chlorinated phenols are a group of commercially produced substituted phenols and cresols, also referred to as chlorophenols and chlorocresols that are prepared by direct chlorination or hydrolysis of higher chlorinated derivatives of benzene. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is an organochlorine pesticide that has found application as a wood treatment agent and biocide. Its recalcitrant and toxic nature leading to serious environmental consequences has resulted in the need for its remediation and also a ban in many countries. Although, in nature, PCP is mostly recalcitrant, yet numerous microorganisms such as certain bacteria, fungi, algae and their consortia have been shown promising PCP biodegradation and detoxification potential. This chapter presents a brief account of PCP degradation by various microorganisms along with their transformation pathways. The chapter discussed physicochemical removal of PCP and by mixed microbial communities in soil and water using biochar and bioelectrochemical systems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, India

    Madan Kumar

  2. Department of Botany, Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India

    Asmita Gupta

  3. Amity School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Amity University Haryana, Gurgaon, Haryana, India

    Shaili Srivastava

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  1. Madan Kumar
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  2. Asmita Gupta
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  3. Shaili Srivastava
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Correspondence to Shaili Srivastava .

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  1. University School of Environment Management, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, India

    Anubha Kaushik

  2. Environment Committee, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Delhi, India

    C. P. Kaushik

  3. India Meteorological Department, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Delhi, India

    S. D. Attri

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Kumar, M., Gupta, A., Srivastava, S. (2021). Degradation and Biotransformation of Pentachlorophenol by Microorganisms. In: Kaushik, A., Kaushik, C.P., Attri, S.D. (eds) Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability Approaches. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0902-2_16

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