Biodegradation of pentachlorophenol in a continuous anaerobic reactor augmented with Desulfitobacterium frappieri PCP-1

Biodegradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) is discussed as it occurs in a continuous anaerobic reactor with added Desulfitobacterium frappieri PCP-1. The reactor was an upflow sludge bed reactor degrading PCP. To estimate efficiency of augmentation the PCP-1 population in the reactor was enumerated through use of a competitive PCR. Anaerobic degradation of PCP is one process that might benefit from addition of a laboratory strain. The PCP-1 strain seemed to compete well with other microorganisms of the mixed bacterial community.