Broad specificity dioxgenase enzymes and the bioremediation of hazardous aromatic pollutants

摘要

The release of aromatic compounds to the environment is a major source of global pollution. In particular, the contamination of soil and groundwater with benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX) is the most ubiquitous form of aromatic pollution. The major source of BTX contamination is the release of gasoline and other petroleum products. While BTX constitute approximately 15 percent of gasoline by weight, the 290,000 confirmed petroleum contaminated sites along with the estimated release of over 1, 000, 000 gallons of gasoline each year illustrate the magnitude of the environmental damage caused by these constituents.