Differences between 4-fluoroaniline degradation and autoinducer release by Acinetobacter sp. TW: implications for operating conditions in bacterial bioaugmentation

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2013-09, Vol.20 (9), p.6201-6209
• Main Authors: Wang, Meizhen, Xu, Junjie, Wang, Juehua, Wang, Shuo, Feng, Huajun, Shentu, Jiali, Shen, Dongsheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acinetobacter; Acinetobacter - genetics; Acinetobacter - metabolism; Aniline Compounds - chemistry; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bacteria; beta-Galactosidase - genetics; beta-Galactosidase - metabolism; Biodegradation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biofilms; Chemicals; Chromatography; Colonization; Degradation; Detection; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental studies; Fluorides; Fluorine; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Industrial wastes; Industrial wastewater; Industrial wastewater treatment; Laboratories; Lactones; Movement; Optimization; pH effects; Pheromones - chemistry; Pheromones - metabolism; Pollutants; Quorum sensing; Research Article; Secretion; Sludge; Sodium chloride; Statistical analysis; Strain; Variables; Waste Water Technology; Wastewater treatment; Water Management; Water pollution; Water Pollution Control; Water treatment
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-1660-7

To develop a bacterial bioaugmentation system for fluorine-containing industrial wastewater treatment, optimal conditions for 4-fluoroaniline (4-FA) degradation and autoinducer release in Acinetobacter sp. TW were determined. Quorum sensing in biofilms of strain TW was also investigated. Different optimal conditions exist for 4-FA degradation and autoinducer release, particularly with regard to pH. Quorum sensing modulates extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) secretion and biofilm formation in the strain but plays no role in 4-FA degradation. Under optimal conditions for 4-FA degradation, the release of N -3-oxo-hexanoyl-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C 6 -HSL) and N -hexanoyl-homoserine lactone (C 6 -HSL) in strain TW was significantly lower than required for quorum sensing. Under optimal conditions for autoinducer release, on the other hand, 3-oxo-C 6 -HSL and C 6 -HSL levels exceeded the quorum sensing thresholds, thereby inducing EPS secretion and biofilm formation. We conclude that the optimal conditions for autoinducer release (25 °C, pH 5, 800 mg L −1 4-FA, and 0 % NaCl) are suitable for bacterial colonization in bioaugmentation, while those for 4-FA degradation (25–30 °C, pH 8 and 800 mg L −1 4-FA) maximize the system performance after colonization.