Investigating the Anaerobic Biotransformation of the Pesticide Chlordecone

The proposed project aims to investigate the pathway and mechanisms of the anaerobic biotransformation of the persistent organochlorine pesticide chlordecone (CLD). At the home institute, University of Toronto (Toronto, Canada), the intern has successfully identified a a trichloroethylene (TCE)-dechlorinating culture, KB-1, that can completely transform 1.5 mg/L (3.1 µM) of CLD within 200 days when supplemented with electron donors and carbon sources (methanol, ethanol and lactate). In addition, it can also transform CLD during the two subsequent refeeding cycles. To further understand the pathway and mechanisms of CLD transformation, the intern will work with Dr. Florence Popowycz and Dr. Maiwenn Jacolot at Institut de Chimie et Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires (France) to synthesize a key intermediate 2,4,5,6,7-pentachloro-1H-indene (B1). The goal of this work is to 1) learn to chemically synthesize and purify B1 (Lyon, France), 2) gain experience with analytical techniques such as GC-MS and NMR for detecting chlordecone transformation products (Lyon, France), 3) develop synthesis methods for other intermediates, specifically compounds in family C (Lyon, France), and 4) Investigate the transformation of B1 with KB-1 (Toronto, Canada). The collaboration will combine the strengths of both institutes in environmental microbiology (home institute) and organic synthesis (host institute).

Faculty Supervisor:

Elizabeth Edwards

Student:

Partner:

Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Toronto

Program: