Biodegradation of phenol at high initial concentration by Alcaligenes faecalis

Strain Alcaligenes faecalis was isolated and identified as a member of the genus Alcaligenes by using BIOLOG and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The phenol biodegradation tests showed that the phenol-degrading potential of A. faecalis related greatly to the different physiological phases of inoculum. The maximum phenol degradation occurred at the late phase of the exponential growth stages, where 1600mgL−1 phenol was completely degraded within 76h. A. faecalis secreted and accumulated a vast quantity of phenol hydroxylase in this physiological phase, which ensured that the cells could quickly utilize phenol as a sole carbon and energy source. In addition, the kinetic behavior of A. faecalis in batch cultures was also investigated over a wide range of initial phenol concentrations (0–1600mgL−1) by using Haldane model. It was clear that the Haldane kinetic model adequately described the dynamic behavior of the phenol biodegradation by the strain of A. faecalis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]