NASA Tech Briefs Insider Blog

PCB Bacteria 

Posted March 20th, 2007 by admin

NASA Tech Briefs INSIDER 03/20/2007

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have discovered a tiny anaerobic bacterium that could one day transform how polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are removed from the environment. The organism could be the key to developing methods that help detoxify commercial PCB compounds on site — without the need for dredging.

In order to detoxify PCBs, the strong bonds between the chlorine atoms and the biphenyl compounds that make up the PCB atomic structure need to be broken, a process known as dechlorination. The bacteria replace the chlorines on the PCBs with hydrogen, which fuels microbial growth and begins the PCB degradation process.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 20th, 2007 at 12:16 pm and is filed under Bacteria, PCBs. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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