Project information
Microbial transformation of organic pollutants in mixtures

The objective of this project is to investigate biotransformation of mixtures of organic pollutants. The investigation will be aimed on nitroaromatic compounds, above all - the project follow up our preliminary study of biodegradation of nitroaromatic co mpounds. Microbial transformation of organic pollutants can be strongly affected (induced, inhibited) by the presence of other organic compounds. Although numerous studies have described the biodegradation of individual organopollutants, the understandin g of microbial degradation of mixtures of organic compounds is limited. Contaminated ecosystems commonly contain heterogeneous mixtures of organopollutants, however. Microorganisms capable to degrade simultaneously several organopollutants in mixture cou ld be used in bioremediation.The aim of the project is: to describe transformation of organic compounds (nitroaromates and compounds with similar chemical structure) in mixtures, by microorganisms isolated previously for their capability for degradation;