Enhancement of phenol degradation by soil bioaugmentation with Pseudomonas sp. JS150

Aims: To test whether bioaugmentation with genetically modified Pseudomonas sp. JS150 strain could be used to enhance phenol degradation in contaminated soils. Methods and Results: The efficiency of phenol removal, content of humic carbon, survival of inoculant, number of total culturable autochthonous bacteria and changes in fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) profiling obtained directly from soils were examined. Bioaugmentation significantly accelerated phenol biodegradation rate in tested soils. Phenol applied at the highest concentration (5·0 mg g^?1 soil) was completely degraded in clay soil (FC) within 65 days, whereas in sand soil (FS) within 72 days. In comparison, phenol biodegradation proceeded for 68 and 96 days in nonbioaugmented FC and FS soils, respectively. The content of humic carbon remained at the same level at the beginning and the end of incubation time in all soil treatments. The number of introduced bacteria (2·50 × 10⁹ g^?1 soil) markedly decreased during the first 4 or 8 days depending on contamination level and type of soil; however, inoculant survived over the experimental period of time. Analysis of FAME patterns indicated that changes in the percentages of cyclopropane fatty acids 17:0 cy and 19:0 cyω10c and branched fatty acids might be useful markers for monitoring the progress of phenol removal from soil. Conclusions: It was confirmed that soil bioaugmentation with Pseudomonas sp. JS150 significantly enhanced soil activity towards phenol degradation. Cyclopropane and branched fatty acids were sensitive probes for degree of phenol utilization. Significance and Impact of the Study: In future, genetically modified Pseudomonas sp. JS150 strain could be of use in the bioaugmentation of phenol‐contaminated areas.