Characterization of 4-nonylphenol-degrading bacterial consortium obtained from a textile wastewater pretreatment plant.
4-Nonylphenol (4-NP) isomers are toxic and recalcitrant compounds often resulting, together with short-chain ethoxylated nonylphenol (NPnEO, where n is the number of ethylene oxide units), from NPnEO biodegradation in conventional activated sludge plants. In this work, a microbial consortium, defined as Consortium A, capable of removing 100 mg/L of 4-NP with no accumulation of metabolites with aromatic moiety was isolated from textile wastewaters after enrichment with 4-NP. The consortium showed remarkable degradation activities toward several short-chain NPnEO congeners. Culture-dependent techniques were used to isolate from the consortium twenty-six strains assigned to seven different amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis groups. Two- and three-member cocultures were prepared with the strains showing highest 4-NP-degrading capabilities, but neither the single strains nor the cocultures were as efficient in 4-NP degradation as Consortium A. FISH was used to characterize the microbial composition of Consortium A: it evidenced a strong occurrence of Proteobacteria and, in particular, of Gammaproteobacteria along with a relevant stability of the culture. Therefore, the isolated consortium has the potential of being used in the development of a biotechnological process for the tertiary treatment of effluents of activated sludge plants fed with NPnEO-contaminated wastewaters.
Di Gioia
Diana
D
Department of Applied Chemistry and Material Science, University of Bologna, viale Risorgimento 2, 40136 Bologna, Italy.
Salvadori
Laura
L
Zanaroli
Giulio
G
Coppini
Ester
E
Fava
Fabio
F
Barberio
Claudia
C
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020563:Gammaproteobacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007220:Industrial Waste; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D013783:Textile Industry; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods
D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D007220:Industrial Waste; D010636:Phenols; D012722:Sewage; C041594:4-nonylphenol