Biodegradation of chlorophenols by immobilized pure-culture microorganisms

Abstract

The biodegradation of phenol and chlorophenols by immobilized pure-culture cells was conducted by a series of batch reactors. The microorganisms used in this study were Pseudomonas putida, Psuedomonas testosteroni, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Agrobacterium radiobacter. All four species showed the ortho-cleavage pathway to metabolize chlorophenols. Among the four species, P. testosteroni, P. putida, and P. aeruginosa could effectively remove phenol at 200 mg/l. P. testosteroni could effectively remove 2-chlorophenol at 10mg/l. However, the other three species, P. putida, P. aeruginosa, and A. radiobacter, could not effectively remove 2-chlorophenol. Although 3-chlorophenol is a recalcitrant compound, P. testosteroni also could rapidly metabolize 3-chlorophenol at 10 mg/l. The removal of 4-chlorophenol at 10 mg/l by P. testosteroni reached 98% within one day. P. aeruginosa and A. radiobacter also could metabolize 4-chlorophenol after 2 and 7 days of lag period, respectively.