Strategies for Bioremediation of Nitro and Chloroaromatic Compounds from a Contaminated Site
Nitro and chloroaromatics. Bioremediation. 3-nitrochlorobenzene. Native microorganisms. Aerobic biodegradability.
Chlorinated anilines and chlorinated nitrobenzenes are intermediates in the production of dyes, pharmaceuticals, perfumes, pesticides, herbicides, cosmetics and explosives. There are reports of environmental contamination by these compounds at an old herbicide manufacturing site in the state of Bahia. The remediation of these pollutants is imperative for environmental protection, as they are toxic and mutagenic. This work presents strategies for bioremediation of nitro and chloroaromatics in this contaminated site. First, the ability of native microorganisms to aerobically degrade the main contaminants present in groundwater and identify them was verified. There are no reports in the literature of microorganisms capable of degrading 3-chloronitrobenzene, however, in this study, diaphorobacter was found with greater abundance degrading this contaminant. Genus such as diaphorobacter, pseudomonas and cupriavidus are involved in the dichloronireobenzenes degradation. Diaphorobacter, sediminibacterium, pseudomonas and cupriavidus in the chloroanilines degradation. Cupriavidus and massila in the monochlorobenzene degradation. Diaphorobacter, sediminibacterium and cupriavidus degrade dichlorobenzene. Diaphorobacter, cupriavidus, sediminibacterium and alicycliphilus are responsible for the dichloroanilines degradation. The ability of native and laboratory-grown microorganisms to degrade target contaminants when present in soil was also verified through the biopile test. On a pilot scale, the biosparging method was applied to an area of the site, the growth and change in the microbial community were evaluated.