Biodegradation of 2-Methylisoborneol by Oligotrophic Bacterium Isolated from a Eutrophied Lake

Abstract

2-Methylisoborneol (MIB) is one of several causative compounds responsible for musty odor problems of drinking water. The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinetics of MIB biodegradation and utilization of other organics by Bacillus sp. This bacterium was isolated from the backwash water of a rapid sand filter used to treat water from Lake Kasumigaura. The isolated organism was an oligotrophic bacterium that can grow on a medium containing 0.1 mg/l of MIB as a sole carbon source. A laboratory experiment showed that a biofilm reactor seeded with the cells of this bacterium continuously removed approximately 90 % of 600 ng/l MIB.