Efficient degradation of dibutyl phthalate and utilization of Phthalic Acid Esters (PAEs) by Acinetobacter species isolated from MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) leachate

Abstract

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 <p>Bacteria from the genus <em>Acinetobacter </em>are opportunistic pathogens and cause harm to humans. In this study a new bacterial strain designated as <em>Acinetobacter</em> sp. 33F was isolated from municipal solid waste (MSW) leachate. This bacterium is useful as it degrades and utilizes dibutyl phthalate (DBP) as sole carbon source.  <em>Acinetobacter</em> sp. 33F degraded 82.45% of the initial 2000 mg/L of DBP in minimal salt medium. It degraded 54.36 % of initial DBP in samples collected from phthalate esters contaminated site. Monod model explained the growth kinetics of <em>Acinetobacter</em> sp. 33F. The calculated values of µ<sub>max</sub>, K<sub>s</sub> and yield were 0.01616 h<sup>-1</sup>, 382.92 mg/L and 0.43 respectively. Stoichiometry of DBP degradation suggested that 43 g of microbial biomass was produced for every 100 g DBP consumed. <em>Acinetobacter</em> sp. 33F also grows on Di-Ethyl Phthalate (DEP), Di-Octyl Phthalate (DOP), Benzyl Butyl Phthalate (BBP), Mono-Butyl Phthalate (MBP) and Di–isodecyl Phthalate (DIDP) as sole carbon source. Five genes responsible for phthalate esters (PAEs) degradation were amplified from the genome of <em>Acinetobacter</em> sp. 33F. <em>Acinetobacter</em> sp. 33F can be considered as an important tool for remediation of sites contaminated with phthalate esters. </p>
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