Anaerobic degradation of benzene by enriched consortia with humic acids as terminal electron acceptors

► Enriched consortia were able to couple the anaerobic degradation of benzene to the reduction of humic acids. ► Electron-equivalents derived from anaerobic benzene oxidation were highly recovered as reduced humic acids. ► Several species from classes β-, δ- and γ-Proteobacteria were enriched during the anaerobic degradation of benzene.