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Isolation and Characterization of a New Benzene, Toluene, and Ethylbenzene Degrading Bacterium, Acinetobacter sp. B113

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Abstract

A bacterium designated strain B113, able to degrade benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene compounds (BTE), was isolated from gasoline-contaminated sediment at a gas station in Geoje, Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate belonged to the genus Acinetobacter. The biodegradation rates of benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene were relatively low in MSB broth, but the addition of yeast extract had a substantial impact on the biodegradation of BTE compounds, which suggested that yeast extract might provide a factor that was necessary for its growth or BTE biodegradation activity. However, interestingly, the biodegradation of BTE compounds occurred very quickly in slurry systems amended with sterile soil. Moreover, if soil was combusted first to remove organic matters, the enhancement effect on BTE biodegradation was lost, indicating that some insoluble organic compounds were probably beneficial for BTE degradation in contaminated sediment. This study suggests that strain B113 may play an important role for biodegradation of BTE in the contaminated site.

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Acknowledgment

This research was supported by Chung-Ang University Research Grants in 2008.

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  1. Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, 221, HeukSeok-Dong, Seoul, 156-756, South Korea

    Jeong Myeong Kim & Che Ok Jeon

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  1. Jeong Myeong Kim
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  2. Che Ok Jeon
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Correspondence to Che Ok Jeon.

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Kim, J.M., Jeon, C.O. Isolation and Characterization of a New Benzene, Toluene, and Ethylbenzene Degrading Bacterium, Acinetobacter sp. B113. Curr Microbiol 58, 70–75 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-008-9268-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-008-9268-8

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