Bacterial response to photocatalytic degradation of 6-chlorovanillin

The oxidation of a 186 ppm 6-chlorovanillin solution was performed using impregnated TiO2 glass rings in a 1 l photochemical reactor. Fifty per cent degradation was obtained after 60 min with recirculation of the solution. Then, oxidised samples were submitted under aerobic conditions to bacterial degradation in the Pseudomonas paucimobilis (S37) and Burkholderia cepacia (PZK). Both selected aerobic bacteria degrade more efficiently the photocatalysed samples, being PZK strain better than S37. A first-order kinetic was observed in both systems photocatalytic and bacterial degradation.