Biotechnology Letters, Vol.20, No.9, 885-887, 1998
Degradation of alpha, beta, gamma and delta-hexachlorocyclohexanes by Sphingomonas paucimobilis
Sphingomonas paucimobilis degrades aerobically alpha, beta, gamma and delta-hexachlorocyclohexane. With alpha-HCH, complete degradation occurred after 3 days but with beta and gamma, and with delta-HCH, 98 and 56% degradation occurred after 12 and 8 days of incubation, respectively. Pentachlorocyclohexene was formed as the primary metabolite during the degradation of all the HCH isomers.