Degradation of 2-chlorobenzoic and 2,5-dichlorobenzoic acids in soil columns by Pseudomonas stutzeri

The heterocontinuous cultivation technique was used for the study of 2-chlorobenzoic and 2,5-dichlobenzoic acid degradation in soil columns inoculated with Pseudomonas stutzeri. 2-chlorobenzoic and 2,5-dichlorobenzoic acids disappeared from the soil columns within 8 and 12 d, respectively. The presence of the haloaromatics increased the survival of strain KS25 in soil. Viable cell numbers in the soil columns flushed with 2-chlorobenzoic and 2,5-dichlorobenzoic acids were 1.3 and 2 times higher, respectively, than those without the chlorobenzoic acids after 30 d of incubation.