[Isolation, identification of 17alpha-ethynylestradiol-degrading strain and its degradation characteristics]

A bacterial strain that degrades 17alpha-ethynylestradiol (EE2) was isolated from activated sludge of wastewater treatment plant treating wastewater from pharmacy factory mainly producing contraceptive medicine in Beijing, China. Based on its morphology, physiological and biochemical characters, as well as 16S rDNA sequence analysis, this strain was identified as Sphingobacterium sp. JCR5. Strain JCR5 can use EE2 as sole carbon and energy source for growth. The optimal temperature and pH for strain JCR5 utilizing EE2 was 25 approximately 40 degrees C and 7 approximately 9, respectively. Metal ions such as Ni2+, Mn2+, Cu2+ and Fe3+ promote growth of strain JCR5, and some metal ions such as Zn2+, Ag+, Pb2+, Ca2+ and Al3+ inhibit its growth. The degradation process for EE2 with initial concentration of 30mg x L(-1) indicated that the degradation rate of EE2 by strain JCR5 within 10 days was 87%.