Biotechnological tools to improve bioremediation of phenol by Acinetobacter sp. RTE1.4.

PAISIO C.,; MELINA A. TALANO; GONZÁLES P; MAGALLANES NOGUERA CYNTHIA; KURINA-SANZ MARCELA; AGOSTINI E

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016

0959-3330

The use of native bacteria is a useful strategy to decontaminate industrial effluents as well as theenvironment. Acinetobacter sp. RTE1.4 was previously isolated from polluted environments andconstitutes a promising alternative for this purpose due to its capability to remove phenol fromsynthetic solutions and industrial effluents. In this work, this strain was identified at species levelas A. tandoii RTE1.4. Phenol degradation pathway was studied and some reaction intermediateswere detected, confirming that this strain degraded phenol through ortho-cleavage of thearomatic ring. Phenol removal assays were carried out in a stirred tank bioreactor and acomplete degradation of the contaminant was achieved after only 7 h, at an aeration rate of 3vvm and at agitation of 600 rpm. Moreover, this bacterium was immobilized into calciumalginate beads and an increase in phenol biodegradation with respect to free cells wasobserved. The immobilized cells were reused for four consecutive cycles and stored at 4°C for 9months, during which phenol removal efficiency was maintained. Post-removal solutionswere evaluated by Microtox® test, showing a toxicity reduction after bacterial treatment.These findings demonstrated that A. tandoii RTE1.4 might be considered as a usefulbiotechnological tool for an efficient treatment of different solutions contaminated with phenolin bioreactors, using either free or immobilized cells.