Aerobic biotransformation of 4-fluorocinnamic acid to 4-fluorobenzoic acid

Abstract

The biotransformation of 4-fluorocinnamic acid (FCA) using non-acclimated industrial activated sludge was investigated. FCA is a common intermediate in organic synthesis, and it is often present in aqueous waste streams. Hence, the biotransformation reactions this compound undergoes when exposed to activated sludge micro-organisms should be understood before waste streams are sent to biological wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). FCA biotransformation was monitored using a wide range of analytical techniques. These techniques were used to monitor not only FCA disappearance, but also the formation of degradation products, in order to propose the metabolic pathway. FCA was biotransformed to 4-fluorobenzoic acid via the formation of 4-fluoroacetophenone. The removal of FCA up to 200 mg L-1 followed first order kinetics. The half-lives for removal of FCA from the test solutions supplied with 200 mg L-1, 100 mg L-1, and 50 mg L-1 were 53, 18, and 5 hours respectively.