Study the Aromatic-Degrading Bacteria from Effluents of Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine, Iran

Abstract

Aromatic hydrocarbons are carcinogenic contaminants produced through natural and anthropogenic sources. The utilization of bacteria plays a crucial role in aromatic compounds bioremediation. For the isolation of mono- and di-aromatic hydrocarbon (phenol and naphthalene) degrading bacteria, samples were collected from five zones in Sarcheshmeh copper mine, Iran. The total aromatic hydrocarbon degrading bacteria were quantified by the most probable number (MPN) and the colony-forming unit (CFU) methods. The results were indicated that most of the bacteria communities degrade aromatic compounds aggregated in the Concenter Weighted (CW) metals’ mine site. Totally 37 aromatic hydrocarbons (phenol and naphthalene) degrading bacteria were isolated that capably degraded 200 mg l⁻¹ of aromatic compounds over 7 days. Four strains were able to degrade up to 600 mg l⁻¹ of phenol and naphthalene during 7 days. The strains were molecularly identified that belong to the genera: Achromobacter ruhlandii AHB15N and Bacillus pumilus AHB19N (as naphthalene degraders) and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus AHB26P and Comamonas testosteroni AHB32P (as phenol degraders). This study was the first investigation for the screening and identification of phenol and naphthalene degrading bacterial strains from a mine environment in Iran. These isolated strains with strong aromatic hydrocarbon degrading potentials are recommended for the bioremediation of aromatic compounds in polluted environments.

Keywords:

• Biodegradation
• naphthalene
• phenol
• pollution
• Sarcheshmeh mine

Acknowledgment

The authors are grateful to Mrs Leslie Yellow Hammer, the University of North Dakota, for checking the English language of this article.

Disclosure statementThe authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This research was financially supported by the Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman-Iran.