Biotransformation of naphthalene and diaryl ethers by green microalgae

The role of green microalgae in the biotransformation of naphthalene (a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) and diaryl ethers was investigated using axenic cultures of Chlorella vulgaris and two environmental isolates, Scenedesmus SI1 and Ankistrodesmus SI2. Biotransformation experiments with dense cell cultures showed that these three green algae transformed toxic xenobiotics to more polar metabolites. Chlorella vulgaris metabolized naphthalene to 1-naphthol (0.36-0.65%). Ankistrodesmus SI2 biotransformed dibenzofuran to six metabolites (total over 7%), three of which (possibly four) were identified as monohydroxylated dibenzofurans, the remaining two may be dihydroxylated derivatives. Scenedesmus SI1 biotransformed dibenzo-p-dioxin to three metabolites, one of which was tentatively identified as 2-hydroxydibenzo-p-dioxin (approximately 3.8%), the remainder may be dihydroxylated derivatives. This is the first time that the biotransformation of diaryl ethers by green microalgae has been investigated.