Modeling of Effect of Pseudomonas aureofaciens AP-9 on Bioremediation of Phenol-Contaminated River Sediments

Abstract

One of the most widespread and risky pollutants in the environment is phenol. It is a by-product of many industrial, agricultural, and other anthropogenic activities. Microbial-assisted transformation, known as bioremediation, is an effective and cheap method for treating groundwater, soil, and sediments contaminated with phenol and its derivates. This study aims to assess the effect of the addition of a selected, pre-adapted bacterial strain Pseudomonas aureofaciens AP-9 on key kinetic, microbiological, and enzymological parameters of simulated bioremediation processes for the removal of phenol (250 mg/kg). The early effect of adding this microbial biodegradant in contaminated sediments is insignificant. The effect of added bacteria is manifested at the 48th hour by a restructuring of the microbial sediment communities and an increase in the number of cultivated microorganisms. This preparation of the sediment communities for a prolonged detoxification process is also confirmed by the repeated induction and very high increase in the activity of the enzymes directly involved in the cleavage of the benzene ring. The effectiveness of phenol removal at the 48th hour is increased by 15%, too. Considering this stimulation of a sustainable long-term bioremediation process, we can conclude that microbiological pre-adapted inoculants are an important mechanism for the management of bioremediation detoxification processes and can increase their effectiveness.