Biodegradation of catechols by micro-organisms - A short review

Many aromatic hydrocarbons and catechols are known to be toxic and carcinogenic for humans, and their contamination of soils and aquifers is of great environmental concern. Soil microorganisms, like Pseudomonas spp. and Mycobacterium, were found to be capable of transforming and degrading toxic catechols to easily absorbable TCA metabolites. These abilities may be useful in removal of toxic organic compounds from the environment. The successful application of microorganisms to the bioremediation of contaminated sites requires a deeper understanding of how microbial degradation proceeds. In this review, the microorganisms involved and the metabolic pathways for the degradation of many aromatic hydrocarbons are summarized and the biological aspects of catechol bioremediation are discussed.