Microbiology and pollution: the biodegradation of natural and synthetic organic compounds

Abstract

Natural products are normally biodegradable, and problems arise mainly when excessive amounts accumulate as wastes. Recent research has suggested some new ways of recycling the organic materials in domestic refuse and sewage, in the organic by-products of industry and in agricultural wastes. If processes can be made economical, these materials could provide sources of energy and of animal foodstuffs, and environmental pollution could be decreased. The chemical residues from herbicides and pesticides present potential biological hazards to the operatives and to the environment. Many chemicals used in industry would be hazardous if allowed to remain in industrial effluents. Some of these materials can be rendered innocuous by microbial action, and it may be possible to develop strains with improved metabolic activities enabling them to deal more effectively with novel chemical compounds. Methods of constructing strains and the use of their enzymes for degrading synthetic chemicals are discussed.