Impact of biochemical parameters of genetically different pseudomonads at the degradation of phenolic compounds

Abstract

The main aim of the thesis was assessment of the relevance of biochemical parameters of genetically different indigenous pseudomonads isolated from continuously polluted water in degradation of phenolic compounds. The role of accumulation of catabolic intermediates in decomposition of phenolic compounds in mixed substrate cultivations, determination of kinetic parameters of genetically dissimilar strains and the effectiveness of phenol/p-cresol degrading indigenous bacterial strains on phenolic leachate or shale oil containing microcosm experiments were also studied. Based on the results presented in the thesis, following conclusions are made concerning three main subjects studied: 1. Simultaneous or sequential utilization of substrates from mixtures (combining phenol, p-cresol, benzoate, p-hydroxybenzoate, dimethylphenols) depended on catabolic pathways used for degradation and on accumulation of catabolic intermediates (p-hydroxybenzoate, catechol or 4-hydroxy-2-methylbenzaldehyde); 2. Evaluation of biodegradation efficiency of genetically different phenol hydroxylases-possessing pseudomonads by kinetic parameters of phenol-oxygenation and growth on phenol showed that strains possessing either single- or multicomponent phenol hydroxylase are distributed between separate groups; 3. Specific bacterial populations are selected in phenolic leachate and shale oil-amended microcosms, and strains possessing dissimilar pathways for degradation of aromatic compounds hold different potential for bioremediation. Consequently, the data obtained in this research can be useful for designing effective bioaugmentation technology of phenolic waste.