Microbial degradation of alkenylbenzenes

Alkenylbenzenes are produced in large quantities by the petrochemical industry. The simplest of these alkenylbenzenes, styrene, is in widespread use in the polymer-processing industry and is thus found in many industrial effluents. Airborne gaseous emissions of styrene are particular problems due to the potential toxicity and carcinogenicity of the compound. The catabolic pathways involved in the degradation of styrene have been well characterised. With an increased knowledge of the adaptative response which microorganisms exhibit when exposed to higher styrene concentrations, together with an understanding of the genetic regulation of the catabolic pathways which operate in these microbial strains, it is likely that these organisms could be exploited in areas such as biotransformations, biocatalysis and bioremediation.