Abstract

2-Methylisoborneol (MIB) is a musty-odored compound occurring in natural waters that is difficult to remove by conventional water treatment methods. Biodegra-dation may be an alternative for its removal from drinking water. Studies were undertaken to determine the conditions enhancing MIB degradation and to isolate and identify the bacteria responsible. MIB degraders were enriched using mg/l levels of the compound, in a defined mineral medium, inoculated with water and sediment samples from reservoirs where MIB is seasonally produced. Cultures that degraded MIB were isolated and enumerated. Degradation occurred only in mixed cultures. MIB supported growth as sole carbon source at 1-6.7 mg/l. MIB at 10 µg/l was also degraded in sterile lake water inoculated with washed bacteria. The degradation of MIB at both µg/l and mg/l levels took from 7 days to more than 2 weeks.

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