Abstract
This paper presents the biodegradation of pyrene (C16H10), a four-benzene-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) using a mixed culture of bacteria. The mixed culture was enriched from hydrocarbon-polluted soil sample, using a plate incubated with a thin film of pyrene. The isolates were identified biochemically as Bacillus cereus and Enterobacter aerogenes. The mixed culture bacteria degraded approximately 90% of the pyrene in aqueous medium within six days of incubation. The assessment of other environmental factors necessary for the activity of the mixed culture revealed that the mixed culture grows well between pH of 5.0-7.0 and temperatures of between 20-30°C. From the results of this trial therefore, it is suggested that the mixed culture has good potential for bioremediation applications. Key words: Pyrene, biodegradation, mixed culture, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), environmental factors.
Highlights
Pyrene (Pyr) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) containing four benzene rings fused together (C16H10) with a molecular weight of 202 g/mol
Chemicals such as Pyr 98% purity, analytical reagent standard of methanol, acetone, hexane, dichloromethane and acetonitrile are of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) standard purchased from Fisher Scientific Inc. (Malaysia)
All the isolated strains were characterized as aerobic bacteria and grew well at a temperature of 37°C. 12 Gram-positive with code numbers of WT1, WT2, WT3 (1), WT3 (2), WT5, WT7 (1), WT7 (2), WT7 (3), WT7 (40, WT8 (1), WT8 (2) and WT9 were biochemically characterized (Table 1)
Summary
Pyrene (Pyr) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) containing four benzene rings fused together (C16H10) with a molecular weight of 202 g/mol. It has relatively lower vapor pressure and higher partition coefficient than other low molecular weight PAHs, poorly soluble in aqueous solutions, but is volatilized into the atmosphere. It is known as an unwanted by-product of gasification and other incomplete combustion processes (Juhasz and Naidu, 2000; Mrozik et al, 2003).
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