Anthropogenic activities like chemical industries are releasing chlorinated species, such as perchlorate (ClO4-) or chlorite (ClO2-), into the environment. These substances are toxic and difficult to treat in the wastewater. However, nature offers a way to solve this problem. Perchlorate-respiring bacteria possess an enzyme, namely called Chlorite dismutase (Cld). It can detoxify chlorite (ClO2-) - a by-product of the perchlorate respiration - to chloride (Cl-) and molecular oxygen (O2). Therefore, it is interesting to characterise Clds in more detail to resolve its reaction mechanism and to investigate its potential for wastewater treatment.

This work presents new and direct evidence for transient high valent heme species during the reaction mechanism of an interesting enzyme, which can be applied for the bioremediation of chlorite.