Isolation,characterization and growth kinetics of bacteria metabolizing pentachlorophenol

Summary A soil bacterium capable of utilizing pentachlorophenol (PCP) as a sole source of carbon and energy was examined for its morphological, biochemical, cultural, and physiological characteristics. The organism was a member of the coryneform group of bacteria, probably in the genus Arthrobacter. The isolate exhibited a doubling time of 4–5 h while growing on either glucose or PCP as the sole carbon source. The growth rate on PCP was essentially constant between 10–135 mg/l. At higher concentrations of PCP the growth rate was inhibited. The organism was found to be an excellent scavenger of PCP; a Monod saturation constant of 1.12 mg/l was obtained from chemostat measurements.