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Metabolism of a nonylphenol isomer by Sphingomonas sp. strain TTNP3

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Abstract

For elucidation of the metabolism of the endocrine disruptor nonylphenol by Sphingomonas sp. strain TTNP3, the degradation of an isomer of nonylphenol, 4(2′,6′-dimethyl-2′-heptyl)-phenol, has been studied. As in the case of 4(3′,5′-dimethyl-3′-heptyl)-phenol, the metabolism of this nonylphenol isomer leads to the formation of the NIH-shifted product 2(2′,6′-dimethyl-2′-heptyl)-1,4-benzenediol (NIH: National Institute of Health), but also to the alkoxy derivative 4(2′,6′-dimethylheptan-2′-yloxy)phenol as additional metabolite. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the formation of alkoxyphenol as a degradation product of nonylphenol. Additionally, these results provide for the first time evidence for slight differences in the biodegradation of the isomers of nonylphenol.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Prof. W. Verstraete and Dr. N. Boon (LabMet, University Ghent, Belgium) for the S. TTNP3 strain. The assistance of M. Meindorf is gratefully acknowledged.

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Correspondence to P. F. X. Corvini.

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Corvini, P.F.X., Elend, M., Hollender, J. et al. Metabolism of a nonylphenol isomer by Sphingomonas sp. strain TTNP3. Environ Chem Lett 2, 185–189 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-004-0094-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-004-0094-3

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