Document Type : ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Authors

1 Department of the Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

2 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Shahid Beheshti, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Phenol is an environmental pollutant present in industrial wastewaters such as refineries, coal processing and petrochemicals products. In this study three phenol degrading bacteria from Arak Petrochemical Complex effluent were isolated which consume phenol. Molecular analysis was used to identify bacteria and isolated bacteria were identified as Rhodococcus pyridinivorans (NS1), Advenella faeciporci (NS2) and Pseudomonas aeroginosa (NS3). Among the isolated strains, NS1 had the highest ability to degrade phenol. In order to observe the best yield in phenol biodegradation using NS1, optimization was performed using one factor at a time of experimental design to investigate the effect of four factors, including pH, temperature, phosphate and urea concentration. The optimal biodegradation condition through or tho pathway was pH = 8, urea = 1 g/L, temperature = 30°C and K2HPO4 = 0.5 g/L. Under the suggested condition, a biodegradation efficiency of 100% was achieved. Moreover, NS1 has shown growth and phenol degradation in concentrations between 250 to 2000 mg/L. In a nutshell, the results revealed thatphenol efficiently consumed by NS1 as the sole carbon source. Obviously, the isolate strain may be seen as an important tool in the bioremediation of wastewater effluent, petrochemical complex.

Graphical Abstract

Optimization of phenol biodegradation by efficient bacteria isolated from petrochemical effluents

Highlights

  • Isolating Rhodococcus pyridinivorans (NS1), Advenella faeciporci (NS2) and Pseudomonas aeroginosa (NS3), using phenol as the sole carbon and energy source
  • Optimal biodegradation condition was pH = 8, temperature = 30°C, urea = 1 g/L and K2HPO4 = 0.5 g/L
  • NS1 had the highest ability to degrade phenol and was able to degrade phenol in concentrations between 250 to 2000 mg/L
  • NS1 seems to be as an important tool in the bioremediation of petrochemical effluents.

Keywords

Agarry, S.; Durojaiye, A.; Solomon, B., (2008). Microbial degradation of phenols: a review. International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 32(1): 12-28 (17 pages).
Al-Khalid, T.; El-Naas, M.H., (2012). Aerobic biodegradation of phenols: a comprehensive review. Critical Rev. Environ. Sci. Tech., 42(16): 1631-1690 (60 pages).
APHA, (1998). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. Joint publication of the American Public Health Association (APHA), the American Water Works Association (AWWA), and the Water Environment Federation (WEF).
Banerjee, A.; Ghoshal, A.K., (2010). Phenol degradation by Bacillus cereus: Pathway and kinetic modeling. Bioresource Tech., 101(14): 5501-5507 (7 pages).
Basha, K.M.; Rajendran, A.; Thangavelu, V., (2010). Recent advances in the biodegradation of phenol: a review. Asian J Exp Biol Sci, 1(2): 219-234 ( 16 pages).
Bell, K.; Philp, J.; Aw, D.; Christofi, N., (1998). The genus Rhodococcus. Jo. Appl. Microbiol., 85(2): 195-210 (6 pages).
Busca, G.; Berardinelli, S.; Resini, C.; Arrighi, L., (2008). Technologies for the removal of phenol from fluid streams: A short review of recent developments. J. Hazard. Mater., 160(2): 265-288 ( 14 pages).
Christen, P.; Vega, A.; Casalot, L.; Simon, G.; Auria, R., (2012). Kinetics of aerobic phenol biodegradation by the acidophilic and hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus 98: 2 Biochem. Eng. J., 62: 56-61 ( 6 pages).
El-Ashtoukhy, E.; El-Taweel, Y.; Abdelwahab, O.; Nassef, E., (2013). Treatment of petrochemical wastewater containing phenolic compounds by electrocoagulation using a fixed bed electrochemical reactor. Int. J. Electrochem. Sci, 8: 1534-1550 (17 pages).
El-Naas, M.H.; Al-Zuhair, S.; Alhaija, M.A., (2010). Removal of phenol from petroleum refinery wastewater through adsorption on date-pit activated carbon. Chem. Eng. J., 162(3): 997-1005 ( pages).
Jadhav, D.; Vanjara, A., (2004). Removal of phenol from wastewater using sawdust, polymerized sawdust and sawdust carbon. Indian J. Chem. Tech., 11(1): 35-41 (7 pages).
Khleifat, K.M., (2006). Biodegradation of phenol by Ewingella americana: Effect of carbon starvation and some growth conditions. Process Bioch., 41(9): 2010-2016 (7 pages).
Kilby, B., (1947). The bacterial oxidation of phenol to beta-ketoadipic acid. Biochem. J., 43(1): (v pages).
Kulkarni, S.J.; Kaware, D.J.P., (2013). Review on research for removal of phenol from wastewater. Int. J. Sci. Res. Pub., 3(4): 1-4 (4pages).
Larkin, M.J.; Kulakov, L.A.; Allen, C.C., (2005). Biodegradation and Rhodococcus–masters of catabolic versatility. Current Opinion Biotech., 16(3): 282-290 (9 pages).
Leahy, J.G.; Colwell, R.R., (1990). Microbial degradation of hydrocarbons in the environment. Microbiol.Rev., 54(3): 305-315 (11 pages).
Lin, C.; Gan, L.; Chen, Z.-L., (2010). Biodegradation of naphthalene by strain Bacillus fusiformis (BFN). J. Hazard. Mater., 182(1): 771-777 (7 pages).
Martínková, L.; Uhnáková, B.; Pátek, M.; Nešvera, J.; Křen, V., (2009). Biodegradation potential of the genus< i> Rhodococcus. Environment International, 35(1): 162-177 (16 pages).
Mohite, B.V.; Jalgaonwala, R.E.; Pawar, S.; Morankar, A., (2010). Isolation and characterization of phenol degrading bacteria from oil contaminated soil. Innov. Romanian Food Biotech., 7: 61-65 (5 pages).
Mohn, W.W.; Stewart, G.R., (2000). Limiting factors for hydrocarbon biodegradation at low temperature in Arctic soils. Soil Biol. Biochem., 32(8): 1161-1172 (12 pages).
Muñoz, I.; Rieradevall, J.; Torrades, F.; Peral, J.; Domènech, X., (2005). Environmental assessment of different solar driven advanced oxidation processes. Solar Energ., 79(4): 369-375 ( 7 pages).
Oller, I.; Malato, S.; Sánchez-Pérez, J., (2011). Combination of advanced oxidation processes and biological treatments for wastewater decontamination: A review. Sci. total Environ., 409(20): 4141-4166 (26 pages).
Paisio, C.E.; Talano, M.A.; González, P.S.; Busto, V.D.; Talou, J.R.; Agostini, E., (2012). Isolation and characterization of a Rhodococcus strain with phenol-degrading ability and its potential use for tannery effluent biotreatment. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., 19(8): (10 pages).
Paisio, C.E.; Talano, M.A.; González, P.S.; Pajuelo-Domínguez, E.; Agostini, E., (2013). Characterization of a phenol-degrading bacterium isolated from an industrial effluent and its potential application for bioremediation. Environ. Tech., 34(4): 485-493 (8 pages).
Perry, M.B.; MacLean, L.L.; Patrauchan, M.A.; Vinogradov, E., (2007). The structure of the exocellular polysaccharide produced by Rhodococcus sp. RHA1. Carbohydrate research, 342(15): 2223-2229 (7 pages).
Senthilvelan, T.; Kanagaraj, J.; Panda, R.C.; Mandal, A., (2014). Biodegradation of phenol by mixed microbial culture: an eco-friendly approach for the pollution reduction. Clean Tech. Environ. Policy, 16(1): 113-126 (14 pages).
Soudi, M.R.; Kolahchi, N., (2011). Bioremediation potential of a phenol degrading bacterium, Rhodococcus erythropolis SKO-1. Prog. Biol. Sci., 1(1): 31-70 ( 40 pages).
Stoilova, I.; Krastanov, A.; Yanakieva, I.; Kratchanova, M.; Yemendjiev, H., (2007). Biodegradation of mixed phenolic compounds by Aspergillus awamori NRRL 3112. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 60(4): 342-346 ( 5 pages).
Veeresh, G.S.; Kumar, P.; Mehrotra, I., (2005). Treatment of phenol and cresols in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) process: a review. Water Res., 39(1): 154-170 (17 pages).
Walworth, J.; Pond, A.; Snape, I.; Rayner, J.; Ferguson, S.; Harvey, P., (2007). Nitrogen requirements for maximizing petroleum bioremediation in a sub-Antarctic soil. Cold Regions Sci. Tech., 48(2): 84-91 (8 pages).
Warhurst, A.M.; Fewson, C.A., (1994). Biotransformations catalyzed by the genus Rhodococcus. Critical Rev. Biotech., 14(1): 29-73 (45 pages).
Zhang, J.; Lei, J.; Liu, Y.; Zhao, J.; Ju, H., (2009). Highly sensitive amperometric biosensors for phenols based on polyaniline–ionic liquid–carbon nanofiber composite. Biosensors Bioelectronics, 24(7): 1858-1863 (6 pages).
Zhou, E.; Crawford, R.L., (1995). Effects of oxygen, nitrogen, and temperature on gasoline biodegradation in soil. Biodegradation, 6(2): 127-140 (14 pages).

Letters to Editor

GJESM Journal welcomes letters to the editor for the post-publication discussions and corrections which allows debate post publication on its site, through the Letters to Editor. Letters pertaining to manuscript published in GJESM should be sent to the editorial office of GJESM within three months of either online publication or before printed publication, except for critiques of original research. Following points are to be considering before sending the letters (comments) to the editor.

[1] Letters that include statements of statistics, facts, research, or theories should include appropriate references, although more than three are discouraged.
[2] Letters that are personal attacks on an author rather than thoughtful criticism of the author’s ideas will not be considered for publication.
[3] Letters can be no more than 300 words in length.
[4] Letter writers should include a statement at the beginning of the letter stating that it is being submitted either for publication or not.
[5] Anonymous letters will not be considered.
[6] Letter writers must include their city and state of residence or work.
[7] Letters will be edited for clarity and length.

CAPTCHA Image