Dissipation, dehalogenation, and denitration of chloroaromatic compounds by Nocardioides sp. strain PD653: Characterization of the substrate specificity.

The substrate range of Nocardioides sp. strain PD653, capable of mineralizing hexachlorobenzene, was investigated based on the dissipation of substrates and the liberation of halogen ions. Strain PD653 dehalogenated 10 out of 18 halophenol congeners; however, it could dehalogenate only hexachlorobenzene out of seven halobenzene congeners tested. Moreover, dehalogenation activities were shown for chloronitrobenzenes, along with an increase in the number of substituted chlorine atoms except for 2,3,4,5-tetrachloro-1-nitrobenzene. These results suggested that this strain might be applicable to remediate soil contaminated with these persistent chloroaromatic compounds.