ROHLENOVÁ, Jana, GRYNDLER, Milan, FORCZEK, Sándor, FUKSOVÁ, Květoslava, HANDOVÁ, V., MATUCHA, Miroslav. Microbial Chlorination of Organic Matter in Forest Soil: Investigation Using Cl-36-Chloride and Its Methodology. Environmental Science & Technology. 2009, 43(10), 3652-3655. ISSN 0013-936X. E-ISSN 1520-5851

Chloride chlorinates soil organic matter. Chlorination studies showed that the content of organically bound chlorine in temperate forest soils is higher than that of chloride, and various chlorinated compounds are produced. Our study of chlorination of organic matter in the fermentation horizon of forest soil using 36Cl showed that microbial chlorination prevails over abiotic one, chlorination of soil organic matter being enzymatically mediated and proportional to chloride content and time. Longterm chlorination leads to more stable chlorinated substances and volatile organochlorines are also formed. Penetration of chloride into microorganisms can be documented by the freezing/thawing technique.