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Optimization of high‐molecular‐weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons‘ degradation in a two‐liquid‐phase bioreactor
Author(s) -
Marcoux J.,
Déziel E.,
Villemur R.,
Lépine F.,
Bisaillon J.G.,
Beaudet R.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2672.2000.01011.x
Subject(s) - degradation (telecommunications) , bioreactor , biodegradation , polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon , phase (matter) , chemistry , chromatography , hydrocarbon , liquid phase , environmental chemistry , organic chemistry , telecommunications , physics , computer science , thermodynamics
A microbial consortium degrading the high‐molecular‐weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (HMW PAHs) pyrene, chrysene, benzo[ a ]pyrene and perylene in a two‐liquid‐phase reactor was studied. The highest PAH‐degrading activity was observed with silicone oil as the water‐immiscible phase; 2,2,4,4,6,8,8‐heptamethylnonane, paraffin oil, hexadecane and corn oil were much less, or not efficient in improving PAH degradation by the consortium. Addition of surfactants (Triton X‐100, Witconol SN70, Brij 35 and rhamnolipids) or Inipol EAP22 did not promote PAH biodegradation. Rhamnolipids had an inhibitory effect. Addition of salicylate, benzoate, 1‐hydroxy‐2‐naphtoic acid or catechol did not increase the PAH‐degrading activity of the consortium, but the addition of low‐molecular‐weight (LMW) PAHs such as naphthalene and phenanthrene did. In these conditions, the degradation rates were 27 mg l −1 d −1 for pyrene, 8·9 mg l −1 d −1 for chrysene, 1·8 mg l −1 d −1 for benzo[a]pyrene and 0·37 mg l −1 d −1 for perylene. Micro‐organisms from the interface were slightly more effective in degrading PAHs than those from the aqueous phase.