Biodegradation of Polychlorophenols By Arthobacter Citreus

Abstract

Polychlorophenols are a group of organic compounds widely used in the production of biocides such as pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, etc., The effluents from the biocide industry, thus possess a large amount of these Polychlorophenols contaminating the environment. The Polychlorophenols are highly toxic due to their ability to disrupt the structural and functional integrity of biological membranes, causing lethal repercussions. Bioremediation thus provides a promising and skimping outcome to relieve environmental pollution. Bacteria and fungi possess the ability to degrade organic compounds in their natural environment, either aerobically or anaerobically. Bacteria and fungi can easily metabolize Polychlorophenols to produce intermediates that enter the Krebs cycle. In the present study, the isolated organism was identified as Arthrobacter citreus, and its ability to degrade two important Polychlorophenols, i.e., trichlorophenol pentachlorophenol, was investigated. Trichlorophenol is naturally occurring, whereas; pentachlorophenol is anthropogenic. The bacteria were found to grow at 5mM and 3mM concentrations of trichlorophenol and pentachlorophenol, respectively. The metabolites were also determined by Thin Layer chromatography analysis, which indicated the metabolite, β-ketoadipate, thus ensuring the entry of the metabolized components to the citric acid cycle.