Microbial degradation of aniline by bacterial consortium.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the characteristics of microbial degradation of aniline by a stable bacterial consortium.


METHODS
The bacterial consortium was isolated from activated sludge treating chemical wastewater using aniline as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen by enrichment and isolation technique. The biomass was measured as optical density (OD) at 510 nm using a spectrophotometer. Aniline concentrations were determined by spectrophotometer. The intermediates of aniline degradation were identified by GC/MS method.


RESULTS
The bacterial consortium could grow at a range of aniline concentrations between 50 and 500 mg/L. The optimal pH and temperature for aniline degradation were determined to be 7.0 and 30, respectively. The presence of NH4NO3 as an additional nitrogen source (100-500 mg/L) had no adverse effect on bacterial growth and aniline degradation. The presence of heavy metal ions, such as Co2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Mn2+ and Cu2+ had an inhibitory effect on aniline degradation.


CONCLUSIONS
The isolated bacterial consortium can degrade aniline up to 500 mg/L effectively and tolerate some heavy metal ions that commonly exist in chemical wastewater. It has a potential to be applied in the practical treatment of aniline-containing wastewater.
Wang
Jian-Long
JL
Laboratory of Environmental Technology, INET, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. wangjl@tsinghua.edu.cn
Mao
Ze-Yu
ZY
Wu
Wei-Zhong
WZ
D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D002617:Chemical Industry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*
D000814:Aniline Compounds; D002273:Carcinogens; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014873:Water Pollutants; C023650:aniline