Isolation and Characterization of a High-molecular-weight (HMW) PAHs Degrading Bacterial Strain

Abstract:

A bacterial strain, which utilizied Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) as the sole carbon and energy source for growth, was isolated from soil heavily contaminated by PAHs. This strain was identified as Paracoccus sp. by its morphology and 16S rDNA sequence, and designated HPD-2. After incubated in MS medium containing B[a]P of 3.0 mg/L for 5 days, 89.7% of B[a]P was degraded by HPD-2. When this strain was grown in pyrene and fluoranthene of 50 mg/L for 7 days, 47.2％and 84.5% of which was degraded respectively. Thus, this study provides evidence for the potential application of HPD-2 for improving HMW- PAHs biodegradation.