First Evidence of Aerobic Biodegradation of BTEX Compounds by Pure Cultures of Marinobacter

• Published in: Applied biochemistry and biotechnology 2010-04, Vol.160 (7), p.1992-1999
• Main Authors: Berlendis, Sabrina, Cayol, Jean-Luc, Verhé, Frédéric, Laveau, Sophie, Tholozan, Jean-Luc, Ollivier, Bernard, Auria, Richard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerobic biodegradation; aerobic conditions; Bacteria; Bacteria, Aerobic - chemistry; Bacteria, Aerobic - metabolism; Bacteria, Aerobic: chemistry,metabolism; Benzene; Benzene - metabolism; Benzene Derivatives - metabolism; Biochemistry; Biodegradation; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Biotechnology; BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene); carbon dioxide; Carbon Dioxide - metabolism; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Ecology, environment; Ecosystems; Energy sources; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Life Sciences; Marinobacter - chemistry; Marinobacter - metabolism; Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus; Marinobacter vinifirmus; Marinobacter: chemistry,metabolism; pollutants; Sodium chloride; Sodium Chloride - chemistry; Tissue Culture Techniques; Toluene; Toluene - metabolism; Xylene; Xylenes - metabolism
• ISSN: 0273-2289; 1559-0291
• DOI: 10.1007/s12010-009-8746-1

Marinobacter vinifirmus was shown to degrade toluene as sole carbon and energy source under aerobiosis and at NaCl concentrations in the range 30-150 g/L. Maximum toluene consumption rate, total CO₂, and biomass productions were measured in the presence of 60 g/L of NaCl. Under these conditions, 90% of the carbon from toluene was recovered as CO₂ and biomass. Maximum specific toluene consumption rate was about 0.12 mgC toluene mgC biomass⁻¹ h⁻¹ at NaCl concentrations between 30 and 60 g/L. It decreased to 0.03 mgC toluene mgC biomass⁻¹ h⁻¹ at 150 g/L. Besides toluene, M. vinifirmus degraded benzene, ethylbenzene, and p-xylene. Benzene and toluene were utilized to a lesser extent by another Marinobacter sp., Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus.