Biotransformation of alkyl and aryl carbonates. Microbial degradation

An enriched mixed culture was successfully grown on model alkyl and aryl carbonates. These compounds were degraded by microorganisms at different rates. P-Chlorophenyl-2-octyl carbonate and p-nitrobenzyl-2-octyl carbonate were metabolized through the formation of p-chlorophenol and p-nitrobenzyl alcohol respectively. A strain of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus isolated from the mixed culture utilized phenyl-2-octyl carbonate by an intracellular hydrolase to phenol and 2-octanol which were further metabolized.