Aerobic degradation of decabrominated diphenyl ether through a novel bacterium isolated from municipal waste dumping site: Identification, degradation and metabolic pathway

In the present study, a novel bacterium capable of degrading BDE-209 aerobically was isolated from a municipal waste dumping site and identified as Bacillus tequilensis strain BDE-S1 through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. A correlation between BDE-209 and bromide concentration, COD, TOC, and cell biomass was established. 65% of 50 mg/L initial concentration of BDE-209 was degraded within eight days of incubation by BDE-S1 strain. Two hexa, two penta, one tetra-BDE congener, and benzamide were detected as metabolites. The bromide release, COD, TOC and cell biomass were found to be significantly correlated parameters with BDE-209 degradation. Based on the metabolite analysis, ortho and meta debromination, cleavage of diphenyl ether bond and ringopening were suggested as possible degradation pathways. This is the first study demonstrating the use of indigenously isolated Bacillus tequilensis strain BDE-S1 for aerobic degradation of BDE-209, which could provide new comprehension for bioremediation of PBDEs from contaminated environments.

Automated summary

In this study, a novel bacterium capable of aerobically degrading BDE-209 was isolated from a municipal waste dumping site and identified as Bacillus tequilensis strain BDE-S1. The degradation of BDE-209 by BDE-S1 was found to be significantly correlated with bromide concentration, COD, TOC, and cell biomass, and the study suggested possible degradation pathways based on metabolite analysis. This research demonstrates the potential for using indigenously isolated Bacillus tequilensis strain BDE-S1 in the bioremediation of PBDEs from contaminated environments.