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Phenol-degrading denitrifying bacteria in wastewater sediments
T T Tong1, M Błaszczyk, M Przytocka-Jusiak
1Institute of Microbiology, Warsaw University, Poland.
Acta Microbiologica Polonica
|December 5, 1998
Summary
Researchers isolated denitrifying bacteria capable of degrading phenol from wastewater sediments. Specific strains, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Alcaligenes faecalis, exhibited the highest phenol degradation activity under anoxic conditions.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Bioremediation
- Wastewater Treatment
Background:
- Phenolic compounds are common pollutants in industrial wastewater.
- Anoxic environments, such as wastewater sediments, harbor diverse microbial communities.
- Denitrifying bacteria play a crucial role in nitrogen cycling and can possess pollutant degradation capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and identify denitrifying bacteria capable of degrading phenol from anoxic wastewater sediments and compost.
- To evaluate the phenol-degrading activity of isolated bacterial strains under denitrifying conditions.
- To identify specific bacterial strains with high potential for phenol bioremediation.
Main Methods:
- Sampling of anoxic wastewater sediments (petroleum wastewater sediments and nitrogenous wastewater reservoir sediment) and compost.
- Isolation of denitrifying bacteria using selective culture media.
- Assay of phenol degradation activity under anoxic, denitrifying conditions.
- Identification of bacterial isolates using biochemical and molecular methods.
Main Results:
- The highest phenol-degrading activity was observed in autochthonous microflora from petroleum wastewater sediments (PWS) and denitrifying microflora from nitrogenous wastewater reservoir sediment (NWRS).
- Eight strains of denitrifying bacteria capable of degrading phenolic compounds were isolated, with six originating from PWS.
- Strains 54/1 (identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and 83/2 (identified as Alcaligenes faecalis) demonstrated the highest phenol degradation rates (23.5 and 23 mg/L/day, respectively) under denitrifying conditions.
Conclusions:
- Denitrifying bacteria from petroleum wastewater sediments are effective in degrading phenol.
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Alcaligenes faecalis are promising candidates for bioremediation of phenol-contaminated environments.
- The study highlights the potential of exploiting native microbial communities in wastewater sediments for bioremediation strategies.