Aniline degradation in a soil slurry bioreactor

Abstract

This research was designed to determine the feasibility of the biodegradation of aniline in a soil slurry system. Microorganisms isolated from an aniline‐contaminated site were classified to be Achromobacter xylosoxidans and a Pseudomonas species. A mixed culture of bacteria was observed to grow on aniline as the only source of carbon. Studies conducted in liquid media demonstrated simultaneous oxygen uptake and aniline removal at a concentration of 700 mg/L. The optimum pH for the biodegradation of aniline by the classified microorganisms in liquid media at a concentration of 700 ppm was determined to be between pH 7 and pH 8. Biodegradation studies were conducted in soil slurry system using soil similar to that at the aniline‐contaminated site. These studies investigated the role of abiotic processes in the removal of aniline, the ability of indigenous microorganisms to degrade aniline, and the effect of amendment with an acclimated bacterial population and the addition of nutrients. The ability of aniline to serve as a sole source of nitrogen and carbon was also investigated.