The isolation of microorganisms capable of phenol degradation.

The results of a study on the composition of microflora settling the pilot biofilter bed that purifies the exhausting gases from a cable factory's coil-wire varnishing division are presented in this study. The ability of isolated bacterial strains to biodegrade phenol was also evaluated using culture media of various compositions. Phenol was introduced into the medium at the following concentrations: 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 g x dm(-3). In addition, air in desiccators, where micro-organisms grew, was saturated with phenol. The isolated microorganisms were graded by the phenol decomposition rate using gas chromatography. The beds of biofilters utilized in industry appeared to be the source of microorganisms capable of degrading phenol. The most active were: Rhodococcus rhodochrous, Gordonia sputi, Pseudomonas putida. Their mixture showed higher degradation activity than the particular isolates. Isolated and identified bacteria metabolized phenol at high rate (about 14 to 42 g x m(-3) x h(-3)).