Sorption and Biodegradation of Octyl- and Nonylphenols by the Cyanobacterium Planktothrix agardhii (Gomont) Anagn. & Komárek

The removal of endocrine-disrupting xenobiotics, technical nonylphenol (NP) and 4-tert-octylphenol (OP), from aquatic environment by the cyanobacterium Planktothrix agardhii has been studied. It is shown that nonyl- and octylphenols are removed from aqueous medium in the presence of the cyanobacterium P. agardhii mainly via abiotic pathways—photolysis and hydrolysis—and biodegradation by cyanobacterial cells rather than by adsorption and accumulation in the cells. P. agardhii has a higher destructive and sorption ability for nonylphenol compared to octylphenol. The results indicate the possibility of self-purification of water bodies contaminated with alkylphenols with the participation of the mass species of cyanobacteria Planktothrix agardhii.