Role of chemical concentration and second carbon sources in acclimation of microbial communities for biodegradation

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (USA)

OSTI ID:5039528

Wiggins, B A; Alexander, M ^[1]

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1. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)

A study was conducted to determine the role of concentration of the test chemical, of a second organic compound, and of mutation in the acclimation period before the mineralization of organic compounds in sewage. The acclimation period for the mineralization in sewage of 2 {mu}g of 4-nitrophenol (PNP) per liter increased from 6 to 12 days in the presence of 10 mg of 2,4-dinitrophenol per liter. The extension of the acclimation period was equivalent to the time required for mineralization of 2,4-dinitrophenol. In contrast, the time for acclimation for the degradation of 2 {mu}g of PNP per liter was reduced when 10 to 100 mg of phenol per liter was added. Lower phenol levels increased the acclimation period to 8 days. The length of the acclimation period for PNP mineralization decreased as the initial concentration of PNP increased from 2 {mu}g to 100 mg/liter. The acclimation period for phenol mineralization was lengthened as the phenol concentration increased from 100 to 1,400 mg/liter. The length of the acclimation period for PNP and phenol biodegradation was reproducible, but it varied among replicates for the biodegradation of other nitro-substituted compounds added to sewage or lake water, suggesting that a mutation was responsible for acclimation to these other compounds. The acclimation period may thus reflect the time required for the destruction of toxins, and it also may be affected by the concentration of the test compound or the presence of other substrates.

• OSTI ID: 5039528
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (USA), Vol. 54:11; ISSN 0099-2240
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
NITROPHENOL
BIODEGRADATION
PHENOL
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
MICROORGANISMS
MINERALIZATION
MUTATIONS
SEWAGE
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
NITRO COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHENOLS
WASTES
540220* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)