title: Bioaugmentation for treating transient 4-fluorocinnamic acid shock loads in a rotating biological contactor.
abstract: A rotating biological contactor (RBC) was used to treat shock loadings of 4-fluorocinnamic acid (4-FCA). Intermittent 4-FCA shocks of 35 mg L(-1) were applied (ca. 3 months) with only limited mineralization occurring and accumulation of 4-fluorobenzoate (4-FBA) as an intermediate. After bioaugmentation with a degrading bacterium the RBC was able to deal with 4-FCA intermittent loading of 80 mg L(-1) however, a gradual decline in RBC performance occurred, leading to 4-FBA accumulation. The degrading strain was recovered from the biofilm during 2 months but intermittent feeding may have led to diminishing strain numbers. Distinct bacterial communities in the 1st and the 5th and 10th stages of the RBC were revealed by denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis. Several isolates retrieved from the RBC transformed 4-FCA into 4-FBA but only two strains mineralized the compound. Bioaugmentation allowed removal of the fluorinated compound however intermittent feeding may have compromised the bioreactor efficiency.
authors.affiliation: CBQF-Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina-Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa/Porto, Porto, Portugal. camorim@porto.ucp.pt
authors.forename: Catarina L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.forename: Anouk F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Duque
authors.forename: Carlos M M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Afonso
authors.forename: Paula M L
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Castro
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D061249:Batch Cell Culture Techniques; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018441:Biofilms; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000378:metabolism*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D010802:Phylogeny; D012399:Rotation
chemical_list: D002934:Cinnamates; C042046:4-fluorocinnamic acid
keywords: 4-Fluorocinnamic acid; Bioaugmentation; Rotating biological contactor