Cyclodextrin-Based Polymer-Supported Bacterium for the Adsorption and in-situ Biodegradation of Phenolic Compounds

Abstract

Dual function polymer materials with immobilized Sphingobium Chorophenolicum (SpC) bacterium cells are reported herein that undergo tandem adsorption and biodegradation of phenolic compounds. The cross-linked polymer materials contain β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) with incremental hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) cross-linker at variable mole ratios (X = 1, 3, or 6), denoted as HDI-X systems. The adsorptive uptake properties of the insoluble HDI-X polymers (X = 3 and 6) with various phenolic compounds [pentachlorophenol (PCP), 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP), and 2,4,6-trimethylphenol (TMP)] were studied using batch adsorption isotherms. The molecular selective phenol removal (SR) capacity of the HDI-3 and HDI-6 materials was evaluated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The results were compared against granular activated carbon (GAC) and native β-CD, where 1D/2D 1H NMR spectral characterization of the complexes formed between phenolic guests and a soluble polymer (HDI-1) in aqueous solution provide insight on the intermolecular interactions and the role of cross-linking effects. Immobilization of SpC onto HDI-3 was shown to form a composite polymer/bacterium material. The composite system displays synergistic removal effects due to tandem PCP adsorption and SpC biodegradation to yield by-products such as 2,6-dichloro-1,4-hydroquinone (DCHQ). Apoptosis and cytotoxicity of DCHQ were evaluated using three breast cancer cell lines.

Current Advances of Polymer Composites for Water Treatment and Desalination

“…e polymers used for these composites have been mainly classified on the basis of source (natural and synthetic polymers) and also on the basis of structure (linear, branched, and crosslinked polymers). is review describes the source and the structure of these polymers and their composites, properties, and applications in water treatment and desalination as follows [4][5][6][7][8].…”