Anaerobic degradation and dehalogenation of chlorosalicylates and salicylate under four reducing conditions

The anaerobic biodegradability and transformationof the mono-and dichlorinated salicylates(2-hydroxybenzoates) was examined under denitrifying,Fe (III) reducing, sulfate reducing andmethanogenic conditions. 3,6-Dichlorosalicylateand 6-chlorosalicylate are anaerobic microbialmetabolites of dicamba, a widely used herbicide.Anaerobic microcosms were established withdicamba treated soil from Wyoming, and golfcourse drainage stream sediments from NewJersey, which were each spiked with salicylate,3,6-dichlorosalicylate or one of the fourmonochlorosalicylate isomers. Salicylatewas degraded under denitrifying, sulfidogenic andmethanogenic conditions. In methanogenicenrichments 5-chlorosalicylate and 3-chlorosalicylatewere reductively dehalogenated to salicylatewhich was then utilized. Dehalogenation ofmonochlorinated salicylates to salicylate wasalso observed in denitrifying chlorosalicylatedegrading cultures. The study revealed thatthe position of the chlorine substituent as well as thepredominant electron accepting process affectthe rate and extent of chlorosalicylate degradationin anoxic environments.