Degradation of 4,5-dichloroguaiacol by soil microorganisms

No microorganisms could be isolated from chemostats or from a soil column fed with 4,5-dichloroguaiacol as the only carbon source. If guaiacol was added to chemostats with 4,5-dichloroguaiacol, either soil microbial consortia or guaiacol-degrading bacteria could dechlorinate the 4,5-dichloroguaiacol provided it was <0.2mm. A microbial consortium from farm soil removed 4,5-dichloroguaiacol under aerobic or anoxic conditions, with or without chlorolignin. Dichlorocatechol was the only 4,5-dichloroguaiacol-derived metabolite detected. In aerobic incubations, 4,5-dichlorocatechol was further degraded whereas under anoxic conditions it accumulated.     

Degradation of phenol by a coimmobilized entrapped mixed culture

Summary The degradation of phenol by a defined mixed culture, consisting of Pseudomonas putida P8 and Cryptococcus elinovii H1, was studied. The microorganisms were entrapped either in 30 g·l^-1 calcium-alginate or in chitosan-alginate. Chitosan-alginate entrapment was suitable for a continuous culture. The coimmobilized mixed culture of Cryptococcus elinovii H1 which degrades phenol via an ortho pathway and of Pseudomonas putida P8 which uses the meta cleavage pathway was able to degrade high phenol concentrations up to 3.2 g·l^-1 in semicontinuous cultures. The degradation performance in continuous cultures could reach a maximum of 0.41 g·l^-1·h^-1 phenol. The mixed culture could be stored for up to six months without loss of phenol degradation capacity.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. K. Esser on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Utilization of 3-chlorobenzoic acid by a mixed culture of microorganisms

A mixed microbial culture (Acinetobacter calcoaceticus INMI-KZ-3 and Alcaligenes faecalis INMI-KZ-5) completely utilises 3-chlorobenzoic acid (3-CBA), and the liberation of chlorine atoms is 100% of the theoretically possible one. A. faecalis growth in the mixed culture at the account of 2-chloro-cis,cis-muconic acid which is accumulated in the course of 3-CBA metabolism by A. calcoaceticus INMI-KZ-3.     

Biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids by a mixed culture of rumen microorganisms

The biohydrogenation of C-18 unsaturated fatty acids was examined in a mixed culture of microorganisms prepared by inoculating a proper growth medium with a sample of rumen fluid. Some major factors influencing the hydrogenation capacity have been investigated. The age of the mixed culture, the type of inoculum used, the concentration of substrates as well as the presence of sterile rumen fluid in the growth medium were found to be important factors determining biohydrogenation behavior. It could be shown that the mixed microbial culture, which had been grown for about 24 h on a medium similar to that of Bryant and Robinson, contained sterile rumen fluid (10% v/v), and had been inoculated with a sample of the whole untreated rumen content, had the best biohydrogenation capacity. The culture was able to carry out the complete conversion of linoleic and linolenic acid to stearic acid.     

Degradation and mineralization of 3-chlorobiphenyl by a mixed aerobic bacterial culture

Summary A mixed bacterial culture obtained from polychlorinated-biphenyl-contaminated river sediments proved capable of degrading 3-chlorobiphenyl (3-CB) under aerobic laboratory conditions. Almost total mineralization of 150 mg/l of 3-CB occurred when, after 3 days of incubation, the mineral medium was supplied with benzoic acid as a carbon source. Two strains of Pseudomonas capable of degrading the substrate to 3-chlorobenzoic acid and a strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens capable of co-metabolizing this metabolite were selected from the mixed culture. A nearly stoichiometric amount of chloride, which defines the percentage of total mineralization, was eliminated during mixed culture growth. Offprint requests to: F. Fava     

Biodesruction of water-oil run-off hydrocarbons by mixed culture of microorganisms

Summary The biodestruction of the water-oil run-off hydrocarbons at a metallurgical plant by an immobilized association of microorganisms in a flowing cultivation installation was investigated. The 90–99% destruction of the 0,1–10 g/l concentration of mineral oil is achievable. Only 3 of the 9 original groups of the hydrocarbons paraffins, monocyclic naphthenes, alkylbenzenes were identified in the installation output. Among them was tendency to molecular mass reduction due to the naphthene and benzene rings opening and aliphatic fragment removal.     

Rapid biodegradation of calcium lignosulfonate by means of a mixed culture of microorganisms

In this paper we discuss the aerobic biodegradation of calcium libnosulfonate (CLS) in a beechwood sulfite waste liquor by means of a mixed culture of microorganisms consisting of two Trichosporn Years and bacteria in the Arthrobacter (two species), Psedomonas, and Chromobacterium genera. Under the established parameters 50% CLS was biodegraded in 24 hr accompanied by the demethylation of methoxyl groups, the splitting of sulpher–carbon bonds, and the appearance of carbonyl and carboxyl groups. The achieved results by determination of phenolic OH groups, as well as established changes of the absorption bands of IR spectra of the CLS molecule and the results of the shortening of the analyses of the C, H, O, and S, show that the degradation of the aromatic nuclei-culture biodegradation, which confirms the increase in the concentration of conjugated carbonyl groups and carboxyl groups.     

Metabolism of organochlorine pesticide heptachlor and its metabolite heptachlor epoxide by white rot fungi, belonging to genus Phlebia

White rot fungi of the genus Phlebia have demonstrated a high capacity to degrade organic pollutants, including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls. In this study, we evaluated the ability of 18 white rot fungi species of genus Phlebia to degrade heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide, and described the metabolic pathways by selected white rot fungi. Phlebia tremellosa, Phlebia brevispora and Phlebia acanthocystis removed about 71%, 74% and 90% of heptachlor, respectively, after 14 days of incubation. A large amount of heptachlor epoxide and a small amount of 1-hydroxychlordene and 1-hydroxy-2,3-epoxychlordene were detected as metabolic products of heptachlor from most fungal cultures. The screening of heptachlor epoxide-degrading fungi revealed that several fungi are capable of degrading heptachlor epoxide, which is a recalcitrant metabolite of heptachlor. Phlebia acanthocystis, P. brevispora, Phlebia lindtneri and Phlebia aurea removed about 16%, 16%, 22% and 25% of heptachlor epoxide, respectively, after 14 days of incubation. Heptachlor diol and 1-hydroxy-2,3-epoxychlordene were produced in these fungal cultures as metabolites, suggesting that the hydrolysis and hydroxylation reaction occur in the epoxide ring and in position 1 of heptachlor epoxide, respectively.     

Treatment of high strength organic wastewater by a mixed culture of photosynthetic microorganisms

The growth characteristics and nutrient removal fromsynthetic wastewater by Rhodobacter sphaeroides,Chlorella sorokiniana and Spirulinaplatensis were investigated under aerobic dark(heterotrophic) and aerobic light (photoheterotrophic)conditions. Both in terms of economy and efficiency,aerobic dark conditions were the best for wastewatertreatment using R. sphaeroides and C.sorokiniana, but light was necessary with S.platensis. Neither growth nor nutrient removalcharacteristics of the cells were affected insynthetic wastewater with as high as 10 000 ppmacetate, 1000 ppm propionate, 700 ppm nitrate and 100 ppmphosphate. Although R. sphaeroides and C. sorokiniana showed good growth in syntheticwastewater containing 400 ppm of ammonia, S.platensis was completely inhibited.When grown as a monoculture, none of thestrains could simultaneously remove acetate,propionate, ammonia, nitrate and phosphate from thewastewater. R. sphaeroides could remove allthe above nutrients except nitrate, but the rate of removal was relatively low. The rate of nutrientsremoval by C. sorokiniana was higher, but theorganism could not remove propionate; S.platensis could efficiently remove nitrate, ammoniaand phosphate, but none of the organic acids. A mixedculture of R. sphaeroides and C.sorokiniana was therefore used for simultaneousremoval of organic acids, nitrate, ammonia andphosphate. The optimum ratio of the cells depended onthe composition of the wastewater.     

Histopathology of carcinomas of the liver in mice ingesting heptachlor or heptachlor epoxide.

C3H male and female mice, ingesting 10 ppm of the pesticides heptachlor or heptachlor epoxide in the diet, developed highly significant incidences of carcinomas of the liver. The carcinomas varied from well-differentiated to poorly differentiated and undifferentiated and were capable of invasion and metastasis.     

3,4-dichloroaniline--a nitrogen and carbon source for a mixed culture of microorganisms

A mixed microbial culture assimilating 4-chloroaniline and 3,4-dichloroaniline as sole sources of carbon and nitrogen was isolated from soil treated with propanide for a long period of time. The process is accompanied with a 100% liberation of chloride ions. Aniline cannot serve as a growth substrate for the mixed culture. The authors have studied whether the mixed culture utilizing chloroanilines can decompose these compounds in model experiments with natural waters and soil suspensions. The culture actively decomposes 3,4-dichloroaniline (20 mg/litre) in natural water samples into which it has been added at a concentration of 10(3)--10(4) cells/ml. The decomposition is accelerated in experiments with suspensions of meadow-chernozem soils when cells of the mixed culture are added to the suspensions. The rate of 3,4-dichloroaniline degradation in a grey forest soil suspension remains nearly unchanged when the mixed culture is added to it. Degradation of the chloroaniline is accompanied with equivalent liberation of chloride ions when the mixed culture is added to natural water samples.     

Degradation of quillaja saponins by mixed culture of rumen microbes

Quillaja saponin (QS) was incubated at 39°C in an in vitro medium containing rumenliquor from a cow fed a roughage diet. Nodegradation of QS was observed up to 6 h offermentation. Incubation for 9, 12 and 24 hdecreased the content of QS by 16%, 45% and 100%.The content of QS did not decreasewhen incubated for 24 h in the medium containing autoclavedrumen liquor, suggestingthat rumen microbes have enzyme(s) capable of degrading QS. The fateof QSwill help gain a better understanding of mechanisms of action of QS on rumenfermentation,and its beneficial effects mediated by binding to ammonia.     

Characteristics of the development and biosynthetic activity of a mixed culture of microorganisms

The growth of microbial populations and their biosynthesis of proteinases with the fibrinolytic activity were studied in an artificial ecosystem composed of a strain producing the enzymes (Nocardia minima 1) and a zero strain (Arthrobacter citreus VKM 654). The microorganisms in the association were shown to interact in terms of amensalism via metabolites if the enzyme-producing strain dominated.     

Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by an immobilized mixed bacterial culture

The mixed bacterial culture MK1 was capable of degrading a wide spectrum of aromatic compounds both as free and as immobilized cells. By offering anthracene oil or a defined mixture of phenol, naphthalene, phenanthrene, anthracene and pyrene (in concentrations of 0.1–0.2 mm, respectively) as sources of carbon and energy, a specific degradation pattern correlating with the condensation degree was observed. Regarding the defined mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons, complete metabolism was reached for phenol (0.1 mm) after 1 day, for naphthalene (0.1 mm) after 2 days and for phenanthrene (0.1 mm) after 15 days of cultivation. The conversion of anthracene (0.1 mm) and pyrene (0.1 mm) resulted in minimal residual concentrations, analogous to fluoranthene and pyrene of the anthracene oil (0.1%). Maximal total degradation for the tricyclic compounds dibenzofurane, fluorene, dibenzothiophene, phenanthrene and anthracene of the anthracene oil (0.1%) occurred after 5 days. In general, a significant metabolisation of the tetracyclic aromatic hydrocarbons fluoranthene and pyrene was observed after the degradation of phenol, naphthalene and most of the tricyclic compounds. Doubling the start concentrations of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons effected higher degradation rates. Cell growth occurred simultaneously with the conversion of phenol, naphthalene and the tricyclic compounds. The immobilized cells showed stable growth and, compared to freely suspended cells, the same degradation sequence as well as an equivalent degradation potential — even in a model soil system. Correspondence to: I. Wiesel     

Trinitrotoluene removal in a soil slurry and soil box systems by an oil-degrading mixed bacterial culture

Bioremediation of trinitrotoluene (TNT)-contaminated soil has proven difficult due to the low bioavailability of the contaminant and its resistance to biocatalytic attack, causing slow rates of biodegradation. We have previously described a mixed bacterial culture acclimated and maintained on crude oil-containing medium that is capable of high rates of TNT biotransformation activity with low production of metabolites. We investigated the ability of this culture to bioremediate TNT-spiked soil and artificially weathered soil slurry systems, as well as a soil box system. The culture was able to remove up to 302 ppm (mg/l) of TNT within 24 h in a spiked-soil slurry system, which is among the highest rates of TNT removal reported to date. The toxicity of artificially weathered TNT-spiked soil to Vibrio fischeri decreased over a period of 39 h from a 15-min EC₅₀ of 15.7 to 32.5 ppm. Preliminary results of a soil box system, in which no agitation was used, showed similar TNT removal to the soil slurry system, with 100 ppm TNT being removed within 24 h.     

Cometabolic reduction of bromate by a mixed culture of microorganisms using hydrogen gas in a gas-lift reactor

The discharge of bromate, a suspected carcinogen, will be restricted in the near future. To assess the possibility of biotechnological treatment of bromate-containing wastewaters, the removal of bromate by chlorate-reducing microorganisms was studied. The removal of bromate and chlorate was studied in laboratory gas-lift bioreactors supplied with hydrogen gas as electron donor in the absence of molecular oxygen. In these reactors, bromate was reduced cometabolically by chlorate-respiring microorganisms. To allow the cometabolic reduction of bromate, a chlorate:bromate molar ratio of at least 3:1 was required. The cometabolic conversion permitted almost complete reduction of bromate into bromide at hydraulic retention times of at least 6 h. Optimal bromate reduction activity was observed at approximately 35°C. The pH optimum was between 7 and 8. Bromate reduction in excess of 80% and a maximum bromate reduction rate of 2.3 g l^–1 day^–1 in a pilot-scale gas-lift bioreactor demonstrates that the process is sustainable.     

平板混合培养木质纤维素降解菌研究进展

微生物的混合培养已广泛应用于木质纤维素类物质的转化与降解领域.不同木质纤维素降解菌在混合培养时的相互关系在很大程度上影响混合培养的效果.目前对这种相互关系的研究主要依托平板混合培养展开,所用到的平板主要有基础培养基平板和改进培养基平板两种.其中基础培养基平板法主要根据菌落形态、菌丝体颜色、胞外挥发性有机化合物成分和典型胞外酶活性等进行研究,而改进培养基平板则是将基础培养基平板中的碳源更换为天然木质纤维素类物质进行对比研究.本文综述了采用平板混合培养不同木质纤维素降解菌菌株的研究现状和进展,并对该领域研究应重点关注的问题进行了展望.     

Degradation of phenol by a defined mixed culture immobilized by adsorption on activated carbon and sintered glass

Summary A defined mixed culture of the yeast Cryptococcus elinovii H1 and the bacterium Pseudomonas putida P8 was immobilized by adsorption on activated carbon and sintered glass, respectively. Depending on its adsorption capacity for phenol the activated carbon system could completely degrade 17 g/l in batch culture, whereas the sintered glass system was able to degrade phenol up to 4 g/l. During semicontinuous degradation of phenol (1 g/l) both systems reached constant degradation times with the fourth batch that lasted 8 h when using the activated carbon system and 10 h in the sintered glass system. In the course of continuous degradation of phenol the activated carbon system reached a maximum degradation rate of 9.2 g l^–1 day^–1 compared to 6.4 g l^–1 day^–1degraded by the sintered glass system. 2-Hydroxymuconic acid semialdehyde could be identified and quantitatively determined as a metabolite of phenol degradation by P. putida P8. Increased membrane permeability under the influence of phenol was demonstrated by the examination of K⁺ efflux from P. putida P8. Offprint requests to: H.-J. Rehm