title: Toxicity evaluation of 2-hydroxybiphenyl and other compounds involved in studies of fossil fuels biodesulphurisation.
abstract: The acute toxicity of some compounds used in fossil fuels biodesulphurisation studies, on the respiration activity, was evaluated by Gordonia alkanivorans and Rhodococcus erythropolis. Moreover, the effect of 2-hydroxybiphenyl on cell growth of both strains was also determined, using batch (chronic bioassays) and continuous cultures. The IC₅₀ values obtained showed the toxicity of all the compounds tested to both strains, specially the high toxicity of 2-HBP. These results were confirmed by the chronic toxicity data. The toxicity data sets highlight for a higher sensitivity to the toxicant by the strain presenting a lower growth rate, due to a lower cells number in contact with the toxicant. Thus, microorganisms exhibiting faster generation times could be more resistant to 2-HBP accumulation during a BDS process. The physiological response of both strains to 2-HBP pulse in a steady-state continuous culture shows their potential to be used in a future fossil fuel BDS process.
authors.affiliation: LNEG-UBioenergia, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisboa, Portugal. luis.alves@lneg.pt
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Paixão
mesh_terms: D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005579:Fossil Fuels / Q000032:analysis*; D033601:Gordonia Bacterium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D012240:Rhodococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D013053:Spectrophotometry
chemical_list: D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D005579:Fossil Fuels; C004369:2-phenylphenol