Box-Behnken design in the development of optimized complex medium for phenol degradation using Pseudomonas putida (NICM 2174)

The biodegradation of phenol by Pseudomonas putida (NICM 2174), a potential biodegradent of phenol has been investigated for its degrading potential under different operating conditions. Box-Behnken design has been employed to study the effect of different experimental variables. Four variables of maltose (0.25, 0.5, 0.75?g/l), phosphate (3, 12.5, 22?g/l), pH (7, 8, 9) and temperature (30?°C, 32?°C, 34?°C) were used to identify the significant effects and interactions in the batch studies. A second order polynomial regression model, has been developed using the experimental data. It was found that the degrading potential of Pseudomonas putida (NICM 2174) was strongly affected by the variations in maltose, phosphate, pH and temperature. The experimental values were in good agreement with the predicted values, the correlation coefficient was found to be 0.9980. Optimum conditions of the variables for the growth of Pseudomonas putida (NICM2174) and for maximum biodegradation of phenol are maltose (0.052?g/l), phosphate (8.97?g/l), pH (7.9) and temperature (31.5?°C).