Anaerobic 4-chlorophenol mineralization in an enriched culture under iron-reducing conditions

We enriched an anaerobic, soil-free 4-chlorophenol (4-CP)-degrading culture under iron-reducing conditions. The [ring-14C(U)]4-CP tracer experiment showed that 65 μM 4-CP mineralized to CO2 and CH4 through phenol, 4-hydroxybenzoate, and benzoate intermediates over 60 days. 16S rRNA gene analyses suggested the involvement of Dehalobacterium in the 4-CP dechlorination in the culture.