Phenanthrene removal by Penicillium frequentans grown on a solid-state culture: effect of oxygen concentration.
Phenanthrene removal by Penicillium frequentans was compared under aerobic and microaerophilic conditions in a solid culture amended with low quantities of an agricultural residue. An inoculum of P. frequentans grown on sugarcane bagasse pith was mixed with soil spiked with 200 mg l(-1) of phenanthrene, to obtain a final bagasse/soil ratio of 1:16. The C/N ratio was adjusted to 60 and the moisture content to 40%. The oxygen concentrations were adjusted to 20%, 10%, 5%, 2% and close to 0%, in the soil-gas phase for each treatment. There were statistically significant (p<0.05) differences in the metabolic activity at different oxygen concentrations, measured as CO2 production. Phenanthrene removal rates increased with oxygen concentration, reaching 52% removal after 17 days of incubation for the treatment with 20% O2. Nevertheless, oxygen-limited (microaerophilic) conditions did not preclude phenanthrene degradation.
Meléndez-Estrada
J
J
Department of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, CINVESTAV-IPN, Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, Apartado Postal 14-740, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco C.P. 07360, México, D.F. Mexico.
Amezcua-Allieri
M A
MA
Alvarez
P J J
PJ
Rodríguez-Vázquez
R
R
D000332:Aerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010407:Penicillium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D031786:Saccharum / Q000378:metabolism; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*
D003470:Culture Media; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C031181:phenanthrene; D010100:Oxygen