Abstract
Sodium Diclofenac and Mefenamic Acid are Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) that contribute to aquatic environmental pollution. The present study illustrates the ability of a microbial consortium comprising of Alcaligenes faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Proteus mirabilis, to degrade the aforementioned drugs. Up to 89% of degradation of Sodium Diclofenac and 92% of degradation of Mefenamic Acid was observed within 120 h period at a concentration of 150 mg.L−1. The maximum specific growth rate (μmax) of the microorganisms was 0.096 mg.L−1 hr−1 and 0.0943 mg.L−1 hr−1 for Sodium Diclofenac and Mefenamic Acid respectively, while the maximum specific rate of biodegradation (Qmax) for Sodium Diclofenac was 0.89 mg.L−1 hr−1 and 0.95 mg.L−1 hr−1 for Mefenamic Acid. Residual metabolites predicted by spectroscopic analyses were Hydroxy-Sodium Diclofenac, Hydroxy-Mefenamic Acid, Carboxy-Mefenamic Acid and Acyl Glucuronide. The presence of the above metabolic products suggested that Mono-oxygenase and Glucuronidase enzyme activity catalysed the degradation reaction. The study highlights the potential of the microbial consortium in degrading two of the most environment sullying drugs and can possibly be used in the future.
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