Enrichment and characterization of a highly efficient tetrahydrofuran-degrading bacterial culture

Tetrahydrofuran (THF) is a ubiquitous toxic and carcinogenic pollutant. Screening for pure or mixed-culture microorganisms that can efficiently degrade THF is difficult due to its chemical stability. In this study, an enrichment culture, H-1, with a stable THF-degrading ability and microbial community structure was enriched from activated sludge and could efficiently degrade 95% of 40 mM THF within 6 days. The optimal THF degradation conditions for H-1 were an initial pH of 7.0-8.0 and a temperature of 30 °C. The substrate tolerance concentration of H-1 reached 200 mM. Heavy metals tolerance concentrations of Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ of H-1 was 0.5 mM, 0.4 mM and 0.03 mM, and 4 mM Mn²⁺ did not significantly influence the THF degradation ratio or biomass of H-1. H-1 might be a good material for actual wastewater treatment because of its efficient THF degradation performance and ability to resist various stressful conditions. In addition, the THF-degrading efficiency of H-1 was enhanced by the addition of moderate carbon sources. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene showed that Rhodococcus sp. (a potential THF-degrading strain) and Hydrogenophaga sp. (a potential non-THF-degrading strain) were the dominant microorganisms in the H-1 culture. These results indicate the potential coexistence of cooperation and competition between THF-degrading bacteria and nondegrading bacteria in this enrichment culture.