Biodegradation of phenol using bacteria from different brackishwater habitats

438-442Bacterial degradation of phenol (100 to 800 ppm) was studied. It was observed that bacterial diversity and the rate of phenol biodegradation were influenced by the phenol concentrations in the medium. The rate of biodegradation was reduced at higher concentrations of phenoli and Pseudomonas spp and Vibrio spp were mainly involved in the process. The distribution of bacterial genera in the medium was dependent on the compound and its concentration. Pseudomonas and Vibrio were present in all concentrations of phenol, o-cresol and orcinol. Whereas, Bacillus and Alcaligenes could tolerate only up to 200 ppm of these compounds in the medium. Flavobacterium was absent in o-cresol, while it could tolerate 500 ppm of orcinol and 200 ppm of phenol. Cytophaga tolerated 300 ppm of orcinol, and 100 ppm of phenol and o-cresol. From the present study, it is concluded that in case of an accidental spill of these phenolic compounds many naturally present bacteria could be of great help in their biodegradation and purification of the system thereafter