Improved biodegradation potential of chlorobenzene by a mixed fungal-bacterial consortium

A defined consortium of Ralstonia pickettii L2 (bacterium) and Trichodenna viride LW -1 (fungus) was selected to assess its potential for the enhanced biodegradation of mono-chlorobenzene (CB). At an initial concentration of 220 mg 1.-1 CB, the developed consortium showed an enhanced degradation rate of 0.50 mg CB g-1 protein h-1, while the individual Ralstonia sp. L2 and Trichoderma sp. LW -1 showed average degradation rates of 034 and 0.32 mg CB. protein h-1, respectively. A CO2 conversion level of up to 863% reflected a possible high mineralization extent of CB by the co -culture. The estimated mu max and vmax values were 036 h-1 and 0.41 h-1 for the consortium, which were much higher than the values obtained by each strain individually. 2-Chlorophenol (2-CP) accumulated in the growth medium of strain L2 and inhibited its growth, but it could be consumed quickly by the fungus LW -1, providing a possibility to reach complete biodegradation of CB in a short time. Real-time PCR revealed that bacterium L2 played a major role in the initial stage, and that fungus LW -1 grew well if 2-CP was generated. These results suggest that the fungal -bacterial consortium might be effectively applied for complete biodegradation of CB and have a potential environmental implication in purification of CB -contaminated environments.