Degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls using mixed cultures of different origin

A correlation between the PCB content of the original sample and the degradability of the mixed culture enriched from it was not established. Addition of the co-substrate biphenyl has little influence on aerobic PCB degradation. All enrichment cultures achieved almost complete degradation of biphenyl under denitrifying conditions. What remains to be confirmed is that dichlorinated homologues, too, can be degraded. For the purpose of series experiments, the cultivation and conditioning of samples in four-millilitre trays, as described, is preferable. (orig.)