Objective The aim of the proposed research project is to exploit the potential of thermophilic microorganisms for the degradation of xenobiotic compounds under conditions, which occur in many waste streams of production plants that are so far considered not to be treatable biologically. In the four laboratories involved a screening for novel thermophilic microorganisms will be conducted according to their previous experience. Thereby various conditions like anaerobic and aerobic batch cultures, anaerobic soil columns and aerobic and anaerobic Continous airlift and stirred tank reactors will be used. The xenobiotics investigated will include highly recalcitrant pesticides like lindane and dieldrin and higher condensed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are poorly soluble at ambient temperatures and should therefore be better degradable at elevated temperatures. In addition highly chlorinated hydrocarbons like hexachlorobenzene, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and tetrachloroethylene will be dehaloginated under anaerobic conditions. The resulting lower chlorinated or unchlorinated compounds like dichloroethane, dichloropropane, chlorophonols, chlorobenzoates, phenol, toluene and xylenes will then be degraded aerobically. In order to monitor the organisms involved in thermophilic biodegradation in pilot plants and in the environment specific probes for their monitoring will be developed. The organisms obtained in this project will be used to set up pilot plant systems for studies towards determining loading rates and degradative abilities together with economic feasibility studies for the end of pipe treatement of hot waste streams from various production plants. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryhydrocarbonsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiology Programme(s) FP3-ENV 1C - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of the environment, 1990-1994 Topic(s) 0202 - Technologies for protecting and rehabilitating the environment Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator TUTECH INNOVATION GMBH Address 4,harburger schlossstrasse 6-12 21079 Hamburg Germany See on map Links Website Opens in new window EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH AUTHORITY United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Porton down SP4 0JG Salisbury See on map WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY Netherlands EU contribution € 0,00 Address 4,hesselink van suchtelenweg 4 6703 CT Wageningen See on map