Bacterial characterization of calcium alginate gel immobilized activated sludges biodegrading 2‐chlorophenol or benzene

Abstract

Activated sludges before and after acclimation in the laboratory with phenol and 2‐chlorophenol or a mixture of benzene, toluene, and o‐, m‐, and p‐xylene, were immobilized in calcium alginate gel. Before acclimation, after acclimation, and at the end of 2‐chlorophenol or benzene biodegradation studies, dilutions of blended gel beads were plated and all distinct colony types were isolated. A total of 54 isolates were obtained, 23 of which tentatively could be assigned to Bacillus [1], Pseudomonas [2], or Klebsiella [3]. Shaker flask studies with individual isolates and their mixture indicated that the primary degrader of 2‐chlorophenol among the isolates was a Bacillus, and that of benzene was a Pseudomonas.

Notes

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