Investigations of the Role of Chloroacetic Acids in Forest Ecosystems Using Carbon 14 and Chlorine 36

Matucha, Miroslav; Gryndler, Milan; Uhlířová, H.; Forczek, Sándor; Fuksová, K.; Schröder, P.
In Synthesis and Applications of Isotopically Labelled Compounds - Volume 8. John Wiley & Sons Ltd. : 165-170, 2004

Keywords: soil processes; microbial degradation; chlorination of humic acids
Abstract: Using 14C- and 36Cl-labelled compounds and radio-indicator methods, we showed that chloroacetic acids (CAAs) in the forest soil are both microbially degraded and simultaneously formed by enzymatic chlorination of organic matter. Dichloroacetic acid (DCA) is degraded faster than trichloroacetic acid (TCA). Similarly, biodegradation of TCA in needles proceeds microbially as well. In vitro chlorination of acetic and humic acids is mediated by chloroperoxidase and leads to fast formation of DCA from acetic acid, while humic acids give rise also to TCA. Both processes result in a steady state of CAA concentration in soil and participate in decomposition of soil organic matter and in the chlorine cycle in forest ecosystems.
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IEB authors: Sándor Tamás Forczek