Enhanced degradation of phenol by a novel biomaterial through the immobilization of bacteria on cationic straw

Abstract

As phenol possesses a threat to human health, there is a great demand to search for fast and efficient methods for it to be discharged. In this study, a novel biomaterial was prepared by the immobilization of bacteria on a cationic straw carrier, and the remediation ability of the biomaterial on phenol-containing wastewater was investigated. The free bacteria could degrade 1,000 mg/L phenol within 240 h, while the prepared biomaterial was 192 h, shortening by 48 h that of free bacteria. In addition, the degradation tolerance of biomaterial increased from 1,000 mg/L to 1,200 mg/L than the free bacteria, within 216 h, which shortened by 24 h the degradation time of 1,000 mg/L phenol by free bacteria (240 h). Further, under different pH conditions, the degradation efficiency of phenol by prepared biomaterial was much higher than that of free bacteria. Especially for the lower pH 5, the degradation efficiency of biomaterial was nearly twice that of the free bacteria. This investigation demonstrates that this biomaterial has great potential in the field of remediation of organic pollution.

Degradation of phenol by Rhodococcus pyridinivorans GM3 immobilization

“…Bacillus cereus can degrade a concentration of 1.4 g/L for 40 hours [35] while other alginateimmobilized Pseudarthrobacter phenanthrenivorans cells degraded 1.0 g/L phenol for 192 hours [36]. Remarkably, the immobilized bacteria have higher phenol degradation compared with free bacteria [37,38 ] and immobilization in alginate beads increased the many-fold of degradation and tolerance to the toxic of phenol [39] by adaption of cell immobilized can be more resistant to higher concentrations of phenol [40].…”

“…Immobilization protects microorganisms against phenol and can strengthen their respiratory system [8]. The damage of the membrane was decreased in cells grown in immobilized form for extended times conforming to the excess in tolerance and immobilization of the microbes is advantage more than the freely suspended [9,10,11]. Furthermore, a microbial immobilization method is safe for removing toxic pollutants from environments [12] and the consortium of bacteria can be considered very potential in the treatment of phenol [13].…”