Are Si-C bonds cleaved by microorganisms? A critical review on biodegradation of methylsiloxanes.

Methylsiloxanes, compounds that contain HC-Si-O subunits in their molecular structure, are emerging ubiquitous pollutants now detected in many environmental compartments. These compounds and generally Si-C bonds do not occur in living nature, but are industrially produced worldwide in millions of tons per annum and are widely used, resulting in their release to the environment. It is an open question whether or to what extent microorganisms are able to decompose these compounds.

Towards the design of organosilicon compounds for environmental degradation by using structure biodegradability relationships.

Organosilicon compounds have numerous applications in consumer products. After entering the environment most of them are resistant against microbial degradation and they persist in the environment. Accordingly, they are ubiquitously present in the environment.

Abiotic and biotic degradation of five aromatic organosilicon compounds in aqueous media-Structure degradability relationships.

Silicones have many applications and are produced in large quantities. Despite their potential toxicity, information on their environmental mineralisation is scarce. Therefore, we investigated a group of five organosilicon compounds (o-MeOCHSiMe (1), p-MeOCHSiMe (2), (p-MeOCH)SiMe (3), o-MeNCHSiMe (4) and p-MeNCHSiMe (5)), recently developed to be 'benign by design' based on their readily degradable core structure.