Biodegradation of phenol at high initial concentrations in two-phase partitioning batch and fed-batch bioreactors

A two-phase organic-aqueous system was used to degrade phenol in both batch and fed-batch culture. The solvent, which contained the phenol and partitioned it into the aqueous phase, was systematically selected based on volatility, solubility in the aqueous phase, partition coefficient for phenol, biocompatibility, and cost. The two-phase partitioning bioreactor used 500 mL of 2-undecanone loaded with high concentrations of phenol to deliver the xenobiotic to Pseudomonas putida ATCC 11172 in the 1-L aqueous phase, at subinhibitory levels. The initial concentrations of phenol selected for the aqueous phase were predicted using the experimentally determined partition coefficient for this ternary system of 47.6. This system was initially observed to degrade 4 g of phenol in just over 48 h in batch culture. Further loading of the organic phase in subsequent experiments demonstrated that the system was capable of degrading 10 g of phenol to completion in approximately 72 h. The higher levels of phenol in the system caused a modest increase in the duration of the lag phase, but did not lead to complete inhibition or cell death. The use of a fed-batch approach allowed the system to ultimately consume 28 g of phenol in approximately 165 h, without experiencing substrate toxicity. In this system, phenol delivery to the aqueous phase is demand based, and is directly related to the metabolic activity of the cells. This system permits high loading of phenol without the corresponding substrate inhibition commonly seen in conventional bioreactors.