Putative dechlorinating Chloroflexi

Chloroflexi, particularly specific genera within this phylum, are key organisms involved in the anaerobic dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in contaminated sediments and soils. These bacteria use PCBs as electron acceptors, replacing chlorine atoms with hydrogen in a process known as reductive dechlorination. This transformation converts highly chlorinated, persistent PCB congeners into less chlorinated and typically less toxic forms, facilitating further degradation.