Biodegradation of naphthalene by biocatalysts isolated from the contaminated environment under optimal conditions

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution occurs in freshwater and marine environment by anthropogenic activities. Moreover, analysis of the PAHs-degradation by the indigenous bacterial strains is limited, compared with other degraders. In this study, naphthalene (NAP) biodegrading bacteria were screened by enrichment culture method. Three bacterial strains were obtained for NAP degradation and identified as Bacillus cereus CK1, Pseudomonas aeruginosa KD4 and Enterobacter aerogenes SR6. The amount of hydrogen, carbon, sulphur and nitrogen of wastewater were analyzed. Total bacterial count increased at increasing incubation time (6-60 days) and moderately decreased at higher NAP concentrations. The bacterial population increased after 48 days at 250 ppm NAP (519 +/- 15.3 MPM/mL) concentration and this level increased at 500 ppm NAP concentration (541 +/- 12.5 MPM/mL). NAP was degraded by bacterial consortium within 36 h-99% at 30 degrees C. PAHs degrading bacteria were grown optimally at 4% inoculum concentrations. Bacterial consortium was able to degrade 98% NAP at pH 7.0 after 36 h incubation and degradation potential was improved (100%) after 34 h (pH 8.0). Also at pH 9.0, 100% biodegradation was registered after 36 h incubation. When the agitation speed enhanced from 50 ppm to 150 ppm, increased bacteria growth and increased NAP degradation within 42 h incubation. Among the nutrient sources, beef extract, peptone and glucose supplemented medium supported complete degradation of PAHs within 30 h, whereas peptone supported 94.3% degradation at this time. Glucose supplemented medium showed only 2.8% NAP degradation after 6 h incubation and reached maximum (100%) within 42 h incubation. Bacterial consortium can be used to reduce NAP under optimal process conditions and this method can be used for the removal of various hydrocarbon-compounds.

Automated summary

This study screened three bacterial strains capable of degrading naphthalene (NAP) using an enrichment culture method. The identified strains were Bacillus cereus CK1, Pseudomonas aeruginosa KD4, and Enterobacter aerogenes SR6. The bacterial consortium demonstrated efficient NAP degradation under optimal conditions, highlighting its potential for removing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).