Improvement of simultaneous Cr(VI) and phenol removal by an immobilized bacterial consortium and characterization of biodegradation products

ORNELLA M. ONTAÑON; PAOLA S. GONZÁLEZ; GERMÁN BARROS; ELIZABETH AGOSTINI

NEW BIOTECHNOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2017 vol. 37 p. 172 - 179

1871-6784

Microbial bioremediation emerged some decades ago as an eco-friendly technology to restore polluted sites. Traditionally, the search for microorganisms suitable for bioremediation has been based on theselection of isolated strains able to remove a specific type of pollutant. However, this strategy has now become obsolete, since co-pollution is a global reality. Thus, current studies attempt tofind bacterial cultures capable of coping with a mixture of organic and inorganic compounds. In this sense, the bacterial consortium SFC 500-1 has demonstrated efficiency for Cr(VI) and phenol removal, both of which are found in many industrial wastewaters. In the present study, the ability of SFC 500-1 for simultaneous removal was improved through its entrapment in a Ca-alginate matrix. This strategy led to an increasedremoval of Cr(VI), which was partially reduced to Cr(III). Immobilised cells were able to tolerate and degrade phenol up to 1,500 mg/l at high rates, forming catechol and cis,cis-muconate as oxidationintermediates. Successful removal potential through 5 cycles of reuse, as well as after long-term storage,was another important advantage of the immobilised consortium. These characteristics make SFC 500-1an interesting system for potential application in the biotreatment of co-polluted effluents.