Co-metabolism of fluorobenzoates by natural microbial populations.

Co-metabolic degradation of monofluorobenzoates was carried out by a mixed soil population in a basal salts medium. The monofluorobenzoates did not support growth of microorganisms but were shown to be subject to ring cleavage as a result of microbial activity. Rate of ring cleavage was increased by use of the co-substrate enrichment technique using glucose as the co-substrate. Results indicate that the monofluorobenzoates were subject to an initial co-metabolic attack with glucose, providing the energy necessary for co-metabolism to proceed to a point where complete metabolism became possible.