Decolourization of Diazo Evans Blue by Two Strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens Isolated from Different Wastewater Treatment Plants

The use of azo dyes is popular in different branches of industry. Discharge of colourants to surface water cause harmful environmental effects. The aim of the present study was evaluation of effectiveness of diazo Evans blue decolourization by two Pseudomonas strains and estimation of process byproducts toxicity. In static conditions, both tested strains removed more than 85?% of dye after 48?h and completely decolorized samples after 120?h. Agitation had negative impact on Evans blue removal (less than 70?% of dye removed after 120?h). Ecotoxicological effects were different for both studied strains beside comparable decolourization effectiveness. Increase of zootoxicity was noticed for strain Sz6 and decrease from IV to III class was noticed for strain SDz3. Optimization of process conditions for the most promising strain SDz3 should be deeply examined.     

Biodegradation of 1-Methylindole and 3-Methylindole by Mangrove Sediment Enrichment Cultures and a Pure Culture of an Isolated Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Gs

Indolic compounds are N-heterocyclic aromatic chemicals and have been detected at contaminated sites. Biodegradation of 1-methylindole (1MI) and 3-methylindole (3MI) was investigated initially using enrichment cultures with mangrove sediment obtained from Mai Po Nature Reserve of Hong Kong and subsequently with a pure culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Gs confirmed with 16S rRNA gene. At 2.0 mM, 1MI and 3MI were degraded in 4 and 3 days, respectively, by the respective 1MI- and 3MI-degrading enrichment cultures. When substrate concentrations were increased to 3.0,mM and 3.5,mM, slower degradation of 1MI and 3MI was observed indicating inhibitory effects from the substrates, possibly due to toxicity. In addition, no colony of bacteria could be observed on the agar plates amended with 3.5,mM 1MI or 4.0,mM 3MI, indicating that 1MI was more toxic than 3MI. Pseudomonas aeruginosa Gs, isolated from the enrichment culture, effectively utilized both substrates as the sole source of carbon and energy. Complete degradation of 1MI and 3MI was achieved after more than 40 days and 24 days, respectively, at an initial concentration of 2,mM in the culture. Effects of initial substrate concentration, pH and salinity on degradation of 1MI and 3MI by P. aeruginosa Gs were also studied in batch culture. The optimum pH and salinity for degrading both substrates by P. aeruginosa Gs was 7.0 and 5?, respectively. Biodegradation kinetics of 1MI and 3MI by P. aeruginosa Gs could be described using a first-order kinetic model. Our results suggest that both 1MI and 3MI are biodegradable in the mangrove environment and that toxicity of 1MI could be a potential factor limiting the removal of the chemical in the environment by microorganisms.     

Hexavalent Chromium Removal by a Trichoderma inhamatum Fungal Strain Isolated from Tannery Effluent

A fungal strain possibly capable of removing hexavalent chromium was to be isolated from industrial effluent from a leather factory located in the city of Guadalajara, state of Jalisco, Mexico. The strain was identified as Trichoderma inhamatum by the D1/D2 domain sequence of the 28S rDNA gene. Batch cultures of T. inhamatum in media containing initial Cr(VI) concentrations from 0.83 to 2.43 mM Cr(VI) were prepared. Experimental results suggest that the fungus is capable of transforming hexavalent chromium to trivalent chromium; a transformation of a highly toxic contaminant to a low toxic form. The specific and volumetric rates of Cr(VI) reduction by T. inhamatum cultures decreased as the initial Cr(VI) concentration increased. The fungus exhibited a remarkable capacity to tolerate and completely reduce Cr(VI) concentrations up to 2.43 mM. These results indicate that the T. inhamatum fungal strain may have potential applications in bioremediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated wastewaters.     

Decolorization of Azo,Triphenylmethane and Anthraquinone Dyes by Laccase of a Newly Isolated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Armillaria</Emphasis> sp. F022

A newly isolated white-rot fungus, Armillaria sp. strain F022, was isolated from the decayed wood in a tropical rain forest. Strain F022 was capable of decolorizing a variety of synthetic dyes, including azo, triphenylmethane, and anthraquinone dyes, with an optimal efficiency of decolorization obtained when dyes added after 96 h of culture, with the exception of Brilliant Green. All of the tested dyes were decolorized by the purified laccase in the absence of any redox mediators, but only a few were completely removed, while others were not completely removed even when decolorization time was increased. The laccase, with possible contributions from unknown enzymes, played a role in the decolorization process carried out by Armillaria sp. F022 cultures, and this biosorption contributed a negligible part to the decolorization by cultures. The effect of dye to fungal growth was also investigated. When dyes were added at 0 h of culture, the maximum dry mycelium weight (DMW) values in the medium containing Brilliant Green were 1/6 of that achieved by the control group. For other dyes, the DMW was similar with control. The toxic tolerance of dye for the cell beads was excellent at least up to a concentration of 500 mg/l. The optimum conditions for decolorization of three synthetic dyes are at pH 4 and 40°C.     

一株从金钱树上分离的产纤维素降解酶的菌株的分离及特性鉴定

本研究从金钱树（Zamioculcas zamiifolia）白绢病（Southern blight）病株上分离到一株产纤维素酶菌株SM,经形态观察和rDNA—ITS序列分析鉴定为齐整小核菌（Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc）,经以羧甲基纤维素钠为唯一碳源的培养基培养和刚果红染色测定,证明SM菌株可产生高活性纤维素降解酶。本文对SM菌株产纤维素降解酶的液态发酵条件进行了研究,结果表明：在起始pH6．0,无机氮：有机氮：纤维素碳源之比为0．07g：1．4g：1．6g,温度为30℃,摇床转速为160r／min,发酵培养时间为5d的条件下,该菌株发酵液的CMC酶活性达到11．7U／mL,滤纸酶活性达到2．156U／mL,β-葡萄糖苷酶活性达到3．911U／mL。     

Solubilization of zinc phosphate by a strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens isolated from a forest soil

 A strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens, able to solubilize zinc phosphate, was isolated from a forest soil. Colonies of the microorganism produced clear haloes on solid medium incorporating zinc phosphate, but only when glucose was provided as the carbon source. Solubilization of zinc phosphate occurred by both an increase in the H⁺ concentration of the medium, probably a consequence of ammonia assimilation, and the production of gluconic acid. High concentrations of gluconic acid were produced when P. fluorescens 3a was cultured in the presence of zinc phosphate. Although under some conditions gluconic acid is purportedly able to solubilize metals by the formation of chelates, no evidence of zinc chelation was obtained in our experiments. Furthermore, the increased Zn²⁺ concentration caused by the solubilization process resulted in the manifestation of toxic effects on the culture. A sample of the culture, sonicated to disrupt cells, still possessed the ability to produce gluconic acid from glucose, in the presence and absence of zinc phosphate. The lack of gluconic acid overproduction in cultures of P. fluorescens 3a which were not amended with zinc phosphate suggests that at least some of the glucose oxidation required for the zinc solubilization occurred as a result of the toxic stress caused by the high Zn²⁺ concentration. Received: 16 December 1997     

Successful Biodegradation of a Refractory Pharmaceutical Compound by an Indigenous Phenol-Tolerant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis> Strain

This study provides an alternative solution for the bioremediation of a recalcitrant pharmaceutical micropollutant. Clofibric acid (CLA) was chosen as target molecule, because of its environmental persistence and resistance to wastewater treatment technologies. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of a phenol-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain isolated from the activated sludge to degrade CLA. In order to evaluate the effect of acclimation process with glucose as carbon co-substrate, two protocols were performed, in which the transfer of the inoculum is carried out either in the exponential growth phase or in the decline phase. The results showed a removal efficiency of CLA of 35% when cells in the decline phase were used for inoculation. In contrast, a very low removal yield (10%) was achieved when cells harvested in the exponential phase were used as inoculum. This work is the first one reporting on the capability of this bacterium to remove this drug. The obtained data showed that the isolated strain is able to degrade target molecule and might be a promising agent for the elimination of this refractory compound.     

Production of a novel 9,12-dihydroxy-10(E)-eicosenoic acid from eicosenoic acid by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PR3

Microbial conversions of unsaturated fatty acids often generate polyhydroxy fatty acids, giving them new properties such as higher viscosity and reactivity. A bacterial strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PR3) has been intensively studied to produce mono-, di-, and trihydroxy fatty acids from different 9-cis-monoenoic fatty acids such as oleic acid, ricinoleic acid, and palmitoleic acid. However, from the results and the postulated similar metabolic pathways involved in these transformations, it was assumed that the enzyme system involved in transformation of the monoenoic fatty acid by strain PR3 could utilize fatty acids with different chain lengths and locations of the double bond. In this study was used as a substrate for bioconversion by strain PR3 eicosenoic acid (C20:1, ω-9) containing a singular cis double bond at different positions from the carboxyl end as oleic acid, and it was confirmed that PR3 could produce a novel 9,12-dihydroxy-10(E)-eicosenoic acid (DED) with 6.2% yield from eicosenoic acid. The structure of DED was confirmed using GC-MS, FTIR, and NMR analyses. DED production was maximized at 72 h after the substrate was added to the 24 h culture. Some other nutritional factors were also studied for optimal production of DED.     

Monitoring BTEX and Aldehydes in Car Exhaust from a Gasoline Engine During the Use of Different Chemical Cleaners by Solid Phase Microextraction-Gas Chromatography

All commercial gasoline fuels build up deposits on the spark plugs, injectors, oxygen sensors, catalytic converter, and inside the combustion chamber, which will lower the engine's performance and increase air pollution. As a result, fuel-based detergents have been developed to prevent and remove unwanted deposits. Unfortunately, many of the detergents use high amounts of aromatic solvents, which result in a greater risk of exposure to aromatic compounds like benzene. In this study, car exhaust was analyzed for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), as well as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde during engine cleaning service using different chemical cleaners. A special device was designed for sampling from car exhaust using solid phase microextraction. The extracted compounds were analyzed using a gas chromatograph with flame ionization detector. The cleaning products were rated with regard to the amount of pollutants produced during the cleaning service.