Degradation of phenol by Rhodococcus pyridinivorans GM3 immobilization

One of the primary concerns of the environment is the increment of the xenobiotics levels, which are released in the natural ecosystem. Phenol has been documented as a pollutant because it has a significant role in water contamination; this will, therefore have an impact on the health of humans. Phenol degradation studies were carried out using a mineral salts medium containing various percentages (v/v) of Ca-alginate beads, polyurethane foam, agar-agar and agarose in batches of culture for 1.5 g/L phenol degradation by immobilized cells of Rhodococcus pyridinivorans GM3 during 24 hours of incubation at 32ºC, 200 rpm and pH 8.5. The results showed that a typical concentration of 3% (w/v) of the sodium alginate to form synthetic Ca-alginate beads was supporting phenol degradation which also emphasizes the structural stability of Ca-alginate beads. The concentration of 1.5 g/L phenol was completely degraded observed within 24 hours at 8% of the Ca-alginate beads immobilized cell and 10% of size cubes 0.125 cm3 of the polyurethane foam immobilized cell. Whilst, the degradation of 1.5 g/L of phenol concentration within 24 hours on both agar and agarose was 16% and 24% at cubes of size 0.125 cm3 and 1.0 cm3 respectively. However, the study of immobilization showed that Ca-alginate immobilized R. pyridinivorans GM3 was more efficient than polyurethane foam, agar and agarose.