Oxidation Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Research Articles

A detailed kinetic modeling study of aromatics formation in laminar premixed acetylene and ethylene flames

A computational study was performed for the formation and growth of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in laminar premixed acetylene and ethylene flames. A new detailed reaction mechanism describing fuel pyrolysis and oxidation, benzene formation, and PAH mass growth and oxidation is presented and critically tested. It is shown that the reaction model predicts reasonably well the concentration profiles of major and intermediate species and aromatic molecules in a number of acetylene and ethylene flames reported in the literature. It is demonstrated that reactions of n-C 4H x + C 2H 2 leading to the formation of one-ring aromatics are as important as the propargyl recombination, and hence must be included in kinetic modeling of PAH formation in hydrocarbon flames. It is further demonstrated that the mass growth of PAHs can be accounted for by the previously proposed H-abstraction-C 2H 2-addiction mechanism.

Biocatalytic oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in media containing organic solvents

Lignin peroxidase, cytochrome c and haemoglobin were tested for oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The reaction mixture Contained water-miscible organic solvents in order to reduce the mass transfer limitation of hydrophobic substrates. The reaction products from all three haemoproteins were mainly quinones, suggesting the same oxidation mechanism for the three biocatalysts. The haeme prosthetic group must have located in a protein environment for it to catalyze these reactions, and only certain types of protein environment are able to induce this type of haemebased catalytic activity. The solvent hydrophobicity is a factor affecting the biocatalysis in organic media. Substrate partitioning between the active site (haeme) and the bulk solvent is the main factor of the biocatalytic behaviour in organic solvent mixtures. Site-directed mutagenesis of yeast cytochrome c significantly altered the kinetic behaviour of the protein. The Gly82;Thr 102 variant was 10 times more active and showed a catalytic efficiency 10-fold greater than the wild-type iso-1-cytochrome c. These results suggest that it is possible to design a new biocatalyst for environmental purposes.

Oxidation of Anthracene and Benzo[a]pyrene by Laccases from Trametes versicolor

The in vitro oxidation of the two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene, which have ionization potentials of <=7.45 eV, is catalyzed by laccases from Trametes versicolor. Crude laccase preparations were able to oxidize both anthracene and the potent carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene. Oxidation of benzo[a]pyrene was enhanced by the addition of the cooxidant 2,2(prm1)-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), while an increased anthracene oxidizing ability was observed in the presence of the low-molecular-weight culture fluid ultrafiltrate. Two purified laccase isozymes from T. versicolor were found to have similar oxidative activities towards anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene. Oxidation of anthracene by the purified isozymes was enhanced in the presence of ABTS, while ABTS was essential for the oxidation of benzo[a]pyrene. In all cases anthraquinone was identified as the major end product of anthracene oxidation. These findings indicate that laccases may have a role in the oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by white rot fungi.

Generation of reactive oxygen species during the enzymatic oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon trans-dihydrodiols catalyzed by dihydrodiol dehydrogenase.

Dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (DD; EC 1.3.1.20) catalyzes the oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) trans-dihydrodiols (proximate carcinogens) to catechols which rapidly autoxidize to yield o-quinones (Smithgall, T. E., Harvey, R. G., and Penning, T. M. (1988) J. Biol. Chem 263, 1814-1820). Although this pathway suppresses the formation of the PAH anti- and syn-diol epoxides (ultimate carcinogens), the process of autoxidation is anticipated to yield reactive oxygen species (ROS). We now show that the NADP+ dependent oxidation of (+/-)-trans-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (Npdiol) and (+/-)-trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene (Bpdiol) catalyzed by homogeneous DD is accompanied by the consumption of molecular oxygen and the production of H2O2. With both trans-dihydrodiol substrates, oxygen consumption was stoichiometric with H2O2 production consistent with the reaction: QH2 + O2 = H2O2 + Q, where QH2 is the catechol and Q is the o-quinone. Using Npdiol or Bpdiol as substrates, a burst of superoxide anion production is catalyzed by DD which can be detected as the rate of cyt c reduction that is inhibited by superoxide dismutase. Using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) as spin-trapping agent, secondary spin adducts corresponding to DMPO-CH3 were formed during the enzymatic oxidation of Npdiol and Bpdiol. The formation of the CH3. radical arises from the OH. attack of DMSO, which was used as cosolvent. These spin adducts were attenuated by superoxide dismutase and catalase, implying that O2-. and H2O2 are obligatory for the formation of DMPO-CH3. It is proposed that O2-. is the radical that propagates autoxidation and that the resultant H2O2 undergoes Fenton chemistry to produce the OH. radical. Identical spin adducts were observed using a superoxide anion generating system (hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase) and DMPO as spin-trapping agent in the presence of DMSO. The ability of DD to generate ROS during the oxidation of PAH trans-dihydrodiols (proximate carcinogens) may have important implications for tumor initiation and promotion.

Oxidation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons under Sulfate-Reducing Conditions

[(sup14)C]naphthalene and phenanthrene were oxidized to (sup14)CO(inf2) without a detectable lag under strict anaerobic conditions in sediments from San Diego Bay, San Diego, Calif., that were heavily contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) but not in less contaminated sediments. Sulfate reduction was necessary for PAH oxidation. These results suggest that the self-purification capacity of PAH-contaminated sulfate-reducing environments may be greater than previously recognized.

Cytochrome P450 mediated reactions studied in genetically engineered V79 Chinese hamster cells.

V79 Chinese hamster cells genetically engineered for stable expression of rat and human CYP have been shown to serve as analytical tools for studying metabolism related problems in toxicology and pharmacology. Here, the application of rat and human CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 is demonstrated for comparative studies on the oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as phenanthrene, benz[a]anthracene, and benzo[a]pyrene. Live cells were cultivated for 2 days in the presence of these chemicals. Thereafter, the supernatant medium was checked for metabolites by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Marked cytochromes P450 and species dependent differences in the metabolite profiles were observed. Most important was the finding, that human cytochrome P450 1A1 almost exclusively oxidized benzo[a]pyrene in the 7,8,9,10-position, yielding the ultimate carcinogen 7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9, 10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene whereas the rat cytochrome P450 1A1 oxidized benzo[]pyrene in the 4,5-position and 7,8,9,10-position. The importance of this finding is underlined by results from cytotoxicity studies. Benzo[a]pyrene was twice as cytotoxic in the human cytochrome P450 1A1 than in the rat cytochrome P450 1A1 expressing V79 cells. Species and cytochrome P450 specific metabolite profiles were also observed for phenanthrene and benz[a]anthracene.

Biocatalytic Oxidation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Hemoglobin and Hydrogen Peroxide

Hemoglobin is able to oxidize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAH′s, in presence of hydrogen peroxide. Among 12 aromatic compounds tested, six were oxidized; anthracene, carbazole, dibenzothiophene, fluorene, 9-hexylanthracene and pyrene. The products were identified as aromatic ketones and sulfoxides. Effect of organic solvent concentration and hemoglobin stability were determined.

Mechanisms for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation by ligninolytic fungi.

Ligninolytic fungi accomplish the partial degradation of numerous aromatic organopollutants. Their ability to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is particularly interesting because eukaryotes were previously considered to be unable to cleave fused-ring aromatics. Recent results indicate that extracellular peroxidases of these fungi are responsible for the initial oxidation of PAHs. Fungal lignin peroxidases oxidize certain PAHs directly, whereas fungal manganese peroxidases co-oxidize them indirectly during enzyme-mediated lipid peroxidation.

Oxidation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by an Oxoferryl Porphyrin π-Cation Radical

Abstract A compound I analog is generated from triflato tetrakis (2,6-dichloro- phenyl)porphinatoiron(III) and used to oxidize benzanthracene and pyrene. Benzanthracene is shown to be oxidized primarily via monooxygen transfer from the cpd I complex, while in the case of pyrene, a definitive mechanism was not established, but radical pathways involving dioxygen and water were indicated.

Thermodynamic Framework for Evaluating PAH Degradation in the Subsurface

AbstractA method is presented to evaluate the influence of redox conditions and pH on mineralization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in subsurface environments. Microbial yields based on the free energy liberated from heterotrophic PAH metabolism are estimated under various environmental conditions using a simple bioenergetic growth model. The types and chemical forms of electron acceptors addressed in this paper include oxygen, nitrate, sulfate, carbon dioxide, iron (Fe+3and FeOOH), and manganese (Mn+4 and MnO2). PAHs addressed include naphthalene (2‐fused aromatic rings), anthracene (3‐fused aromatic rings), phenanthrene (3‐fused aromatic rings), and pyrene (4‐fused aromatic rings).Calculated free energy changes demonstrated that sequential utilization of electron acceptors will follow the order Mn+4, O2, NO3−1, Fe+3, MnO2, FeOOH, SO4−2, and CO2. The behavior in microbial growth yield predictions were found to mimic the change in free energy liberated with the use of different electron acceptors. Despite release of free energy under all conditions evaluated, the small energy liberated during PAH mineralization under sulfate‐reducing and methanogenic conditions suggests that heterotrophic degradation of PAH compounds under these conditions is unlikely to occur.The large microbial growth yields associated with reduction of free metal species (Mn+4, Fe+3) during PAH oxidation suggest a selective advantage for microbes that can tolerate acid conditions and/or participate in metal chelation processes.

Degradation of phenanthrene, fluorene and fluoranthene by pure bacterial cultures.

Bacterial mixed cultures able to degrade the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) phenanthrene, fluorene and fluoranthene, were obtained from soil using conventional enrichment techniques. From these mixed cultures three pure strains were isolated: Pseudomonas paucimobilis degrading phenanthrene; P. vesicularis degrading fluorene and Alcaligenes denitrificans degrading fluoranthene. The maximum rates of PAH degradation ranged from 1.0 mg phenanthrene/ml per day to 0.3 mg fluoranthene/ml per day at doubling times of 12 h to 35 h for growth on PAH as sole carbon source. The protein yield during PAH degradation was about 0.25 mg/mg C for all strains. Maximum PAH oxidation rates and optimum specific bacterial growth were obtained near pH 7.0 and 30 degrees C. After growth entered the stationary phase, no dead end-products of PAH degradation could be detected in the culture fluid.

Preliminary data on PAH metabolism in the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis from Arcachon Bay, France

Oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and epoxide-conjugation capacities were examined from mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, collected from a “clean” site at the entrance to Arcachon Bay (south-west France) in 1984, using subcellular preparations from whole bodies and digestive glands. The existence of low-cytochrome P-450-dependent oxygenase activities [cytochrome P-450 content, NADPH cytochrome c reductase and benzopyrene monooxygenase (BaPMO) activities] was confirmed, as well as the presence of a comparatively important capacity for epoxide conjugation [epoxide hydrolase (EH), glutathione S epoxide-transferase (GST) activities and total cytosolic-glutathione content]. The optimal incubation temperatures for the individual in vitro enzyme activities in the mussel (25°C for BaPMO, 31°C for EH and GST) were lower than that required for optimal mammalian enzyme activities. Except for cytochrome P-450 content, there was no significant difference in enzyme activities recorded in whole-body and digestive gland fractions.

Mutagenicity and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons analysis of ambient airborne particles collected in Athens, Greece

Samples of airborne particulates from the Athens atmosphere were examined for mutagenicity and various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Extracts induced linear, dose-related increases in TA98 His + revertants in the Ames/Salmonella assay and contained average benzo[ a]pyrene (B aP) levels of 3.9 ng/m 3 of air. The levels of revertants/m 3 of the samples showed a linear relation to their B aP and benzo[ b]-(B bF) + benzo[ k]-fluoranthene (B kF) concentrations and were higher in areas with dense traffic than in industrial areas. It is suggested that the atmosphere of Athens favours the formation of secondary direct-acting mutagens due to the oxidation and nitration of PAH by ozone and nitrogen oxides, which are more abundant in the late spring months.

Microbial Metabolism of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Publisher Summary This chapter deals with the microbial transformation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The similarities and differences between the microbial and mammalian metabolism are described. Bacteria, filamentous fungi, yeasts, cyanobacteria, diatoms, and other eukaryotic algae have the enzymatic capacity to oxidize PAHs that range in size from naphthalene to benzo[ a ]pyrene. The hydroxylation of PAHs always involves the incorporation of molecular oxygen; however, there are differences in the mechanism of hydroxylation of PAHs by prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. Bacteria oxygenate PAHs to form a dihydrodiol with a cis configuration. The genes for the initial oxidation of PAHs are localized on plasmids. In contrast to bacteria, fungi oxidize PAHs via a cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase to form arene oxide, which can isomerize to phenols or undergo enzymatic hydration to yield trans-dihydrodiols. Multiple oxidative pathways may be involved in the cyanobacterial metabolism of PAHs. Studies on PAH metabolism are entering a new era; biochemical genetic techniques such as gene cloning and transposon mutagenesis will provide new insight into the biochemistry and regulation of PAH degradative pathways.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon oxidation during prostaglandin biosynthesis

Polycyclic hydrocarbons and other xenobiotics are cooxygenated during the oxidative metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The products of polycyclic hydrocarbon cooxygenation depend upon the hydrocarbon but they appear to be formed by radical (or electron transfer) mechanisms. The cooxygenations are hydroperoxide-dependent oxidations catalyzed by peroxidases and may be triggered by enzymes which biosynthesize fatty acid hydroperoxides. Prostaglandin endoperoxide synthetase is the principal hydroperoxide-generating system which has been studied to date. The extent to which polyunsaturated fatty acid-dependent cooxygenation operates in vivo is uncertain but preliminary studies suggest it does occur.

Chemistry of oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by soil pseudomonads.

Rogoff, Martin H. (U.S. Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, Pa.). Oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by soil pseudomonads. J. Bacteriol. 83:998-1004. 1962.-Substitution of phenanthrene by a methyl group at the 9-carbon blocks oxidation of the compound by a resting-cell suspension of a phenanthrene-grown soil pseudomonad. When 2-methylphenanthrene is provided, the oxidation rate is considerably higher; 3-methylphenanthrene is oxidized at a rate intermediate between the other two, even though the methyl group is attached to a carbon directly involved in ring splitting. Cells grown on naphthalene or anthracene oxidize phenanthrene at a much lower rate than cells grown with phenanthrene or 2-methylnaphthalene as the source of carbon. Naphthalene-grown cells also absorb less phenanthrene from aqueous solution than do their phenanthrene-grown counterparts. The data are in keeping with the hypothesis that polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons attach to the relevant bacterial enzymes at carbon-carbon bonds of high electron density (K regions; localized double bonds), and that the ring-splitting reactions then occur at other bonds on the substrate molecule. The actual bond that undergoes fission is determined by the electronic and steric configurations of the enzyme-substrate complex. When linearly arranged aromatic compounds such as naphthalene or anthracene are attacked, attachment to an enzyme and ring splitting may take place on the same ring; angular aromatic compounds such as phenanthrene afford attachment to an enzyme at a bond in a ring other than the one containing the ring-splitting site.