[Strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens 3 and Arthrobacter sp. 2--degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons]

Pseudomonas fluorescences 3 and Arthrobacter sp. 2 strains were isolated from the association of microorganisms--destructors of oil hydrocarbons and were selected for their ability to grow on media with phenanthrene as the only source of carbon and energy. The P. fluorescens 3 strain is able to grow on naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and anthracene. Arthrobacter sp. 2 strain did not grow on naphthalene, but was able to destruct phenanthrene and fluorene. The destruction activity of these strains both in pure and mixed culture towards the latter compounds has been studied. The both strains destructed phenanthrene added into the medium in the amount of 0.2 g/l, and phenanthrene destruction by Pseudomonas fluorescences 3 achieved 98.5% in 6 days and that by Arthrobacter sp. 93.5% in 23 days. Bacterial growth has been evaluated while measuring protein concentration in samples. Bacteria were inoculated in quantities equivalent to 0.0015-0.0020 mg protein/l. The cell protein concentration achieved 35-40 mg/l for Pseudomonas fluorescences 3, and 85-92 mg/l for Arthrobacter sp. by the end of incubation.