[Growth kinetics and phenol degradation of highly efficient phenol-degrading Ochrobactrum sp. CH10]

The strain Ochrobactrum sp. CH10 was a highly efficient phenol degrading bacterial strain isolated from soil in a constructed wetland in Yuan Dynasty Capital City Wall Relics in Beijing. Growth and biodegradation were investigated in details with phenol as the sole carbon and energy source. The best growth and most efficient phenol biodegradation occurred when the strain was cultured in medium containing 400 mg x L(-1) phenol at initial pH of 7.0 and 30 degrees C, with 5% inoculation volume. The phenol degradation rate was around 100% , 92.3 and 82.2% with an initial concentration of 400, 900 and 1 000 mg x L(-1) phenol in 24, 44 and 48 h, respectively. Phenol degradation kinetic studies indicated that the strain followed Haldane's model, and the parameters were: upsilon(max) (maximum specific rate) = 0.126 h(-1), K(s) (half-saturation constant) = 23.53 mg x L(-1) and K(I) (inhibition constant) = 806.1 mg x L(-1). The phenol-limited growth kinetics of CH10 by Andrews's model also followed a similar trend to that of phenol degradation. Among all the strains belonging to Ochrobactrum genus, this strain is the most efficient at present. The strain has a good application potential for the phenolic wastewater treatment.