Peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of chlorophenols to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans.

Chlorophenols are transformed in vitro to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) by peroxidase-catalyzed oxidations. This is demonstrated with bovine lactoperoxidase as well as horseradish peroxidase, and with 3,4,5- and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (TrCP). The yield of total PCDD/Fs with lactoperoxidase was 11 micrograms per g 345-TrCP and 10 micrograms per g 245-TrCP, of which 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/Fs constituted 8.5 and 2.2 micrograms/g, respectively, corresponding to 0.85 and 1.2 micrograms/g of Nordic TCDD-equivalents.