Kinetics of the biodegradation of phenol in wastewaters from the chemical industry by covalently immobilized Trichosporon cutaneum cells

• Published in: Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology Vol. 36; no. 3; pp. 367 - 372
• Main Authors: Yotova, Lyubov, Tzibranska, Irene, Tileva, Filadia, Markx, G. H, Georgieva, Nelly
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 01.03.2009; Springer-Verlag; Springer; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Benzene; Biochemistry; Biodegradation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Bioinformatics; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Carbon; Cells, Immobilized; Chemical industry; Experiments; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic Engineering; Glucose; Industrial Microbiology - methods; Industrial wastes; Industrial wastewater; Inorganic Chemistry; Kinetics; Life Sciences; Mathematical models; Metallurgy; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Naphthalene; Original Paper; Phenol - metabolism; Phenols; Studies; Toluene; Toxicity; Trichosporon; Trichosporon - growth & development; Trichosporon - metabolism; Trichosporon cutaneum; Waste Disposal, Fluid; wastewater treatment; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Purification - methods; Yeast; Yeasts; Biodegradation; Phenol; Immobilized cells; Kinetic parameters; Chemical industry; Yeast; Immobilized cell; Waste water; Fungi; Trichosporon cutaneum; Covalent bond; Phenols; Fungi Imperfecti; Kinetics; Kinetic parameter; Biodegradation; Phenol
• ISSN: 1367-5435; 1476-5535
• DOI: 10.1007/s10295-008-0505-8

A simple method for the preparation of the biocatalyst with whole cells is presented, and the applicability of the technique for biodegradation of phenol in wastewater from the chemical industries using the basidomycetes yeast Trichosporon cutaneum is explored. Kinetic studies of the influence of other compounds contained in wastewater as naphthalene, benzene, toluene and pyridine indicate that apart from oil fraction, which is removed, the phenol concentration is the only major factor limiting the growth of immobilized cells. Mathematical models are applied to describe the kinetic behavior of immobilized yeast cells. From the analysis of the experimental curves was shown that the obtained values for the apparent rate parameters vary depending on the substrate concentration (μmaxapp from 0.35 to 0.09 h⁻¹ and K sapp from 0.037 to 0.4 g dm⁻³). The inhibitory effect of the phenol on the obtained yield coefficients was investigated too. It has been shown that covalent immobilization of T. cutaneum whole cells to plastic carrier beads is possible, and that cell viability and phenol degrading activity are maintained after the chemical modification of cell walls during the binding procedure. The results obtained indicate a possible future application of immobilized T. cutaneum for destroying phenol in industrial wastewaters.