Emphasizing metabolism, Microbial Degradation of Aromatic Compounds integrates information on metabolic pathways, enzymology, genetics, and molecular biology. This book presents reviews of research that has been done using pure cultures and defined biochemical pathways. Providing background and historical foundations of the science of aromatic biodegradation research, it discusses microbial degradation of monoaromatic compounds and substituted monoaromatic compounds. It addresses aromatic chemicals that carry chlorine substituents. It covers biodegradation studies on polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and the biotransformation of highly chlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurans.