Biodegradation of phenol by a newly isolated Pseudomonas sp. strain B1 from tiger nuts

The bacterial flora of tiger nuts sold in Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana were compared using the pour plate method. The ability of one of the isolated bacteria identified as Pseudomonas sp. (accession no. MN227323) via molecular tools to utilize phenol was assessed using mineral salts medium (MSM) with phenol as the only carbon source. Duplicate tubes were set up with control lacking phenol. The concentration of phenol used was 0.2 mM, 0.4 mM, 0.6 mM, 0.8 mM and 1.0 mM. The absorbance was read at 365nm and 400nm at 3-days interval for 15 days. Pseudomonas sp was isolated from tiger nuts bought from Togo and Benin. It was absent in those bought from Nigeria and Ghana. Pseudomonas sp was selected because our previous isolations from Nigeria had shown its ability to degrade hydrocarbons in vitro. Phenol utilization by Pseudomonas sp. was highest at 0.2 mM and followed by 0.4 mM. The utilization ability decreased as the concentration of phenol increased. The study concludes that Pseudomonas sp. can degrade phenol