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Biodegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol originating
from
pharmaceutical industries
Ali Z.
Elkarmi, Khaled H. Abu-Elteen*, Atta A. Atta and Nisreen A.
Abu-Sbitan
Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science,
Hashemite University, P. O. Box 330077, Zarqa, Jordan.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
salma@hu.edu.jo. Tel.: (+ 962) 53903333.
Fax: (+ 962) 53903349.
Accepted 17 April, 2009 |
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The aims of this work were to isolate a microorganism from
the wastewater of pharmaceutical industries,
to examine the difference in its growth utilization of
2,4-dichlorophenol as the sole carbon source pre and
post-exposure to UV-irradiation and to investigate its
efficiency of biodegradation at different temperatures and
pH values
using a
laboratory benchtop
bioreactor. Sludge was obtained from the wastewater and
standard isolation and identification techniques were used
to identify the microorganism.
The biodegradability was tested at temperatures of 25, 30, 35 and 40°C
and at pH values of 6.5, 7.0 and 8.0.
The results indicated that the isolated microorganism was
Pseudomonas alcaligenes,
the maximum concentration of 2,4-dichlorophenol which
bacteria can grow on before UV-irradiation was 220 and 380
mg/l after UV-irradiation. The variation in temperature
values resulted in different degradation rates and that the
degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol increased at a higher pH
value. From these results, it is concluded that P.
alcaligenes
can be used for the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol,
UV-irradiation can be successfully used for the improvement
of P.
alcaligenes
biodegradability and that the best 2,4-dichlorophenol
biodegradation was at 35°C and pH 7.
Key words:
2,4-Dichlorophenol, biodegradation, Pseudomonas
alcaligenes, ultraviolet radiation. |
