The possibilities of using sulphate-reducing bacteria for phenol degradation

Steel production processes generate the coke wastewaters contaminated predominantly by highly toxic phenol. Numbers of physical, chemical and physicochemical methods have been developed for the removal of phenol from coke wastewaters. Biological methods are eco-friendly and present appropriate alternative of conventional processes. Various microorganisms are able to degrade phenolic compounds including sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB). In this work, we study the adaptation of SRB isolated from natural source to phenol and consequently the application of the adapted bacterial cultures for the biodegradation of phenol from model solutions. Two types of bacterial culture were used (monoculture containing SRB genera Desulfovibrio and mixed bacterial consortium containing SRB genera Desulfovibrio). In experiments the modified Postgate’s medium C was used - sodium lactate as the original energy and carbon source was replaced by phenol with concentration 10 mg/dm³ for adaptation and 50 mg/dm³ for biodegradation. The mixed bacterial consortium has been shown as more capable to be adapted and grow on phenol and it has the better potential for phenol biodegradation as the bacterial monoculture of SRB genera Desulfovibrio.