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Construction and function of a high-efficient synthetic bacterial consortium to degrade aromatic VOCs

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Abstract

Aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a type of common pollution form in chemical contaminated sites. In this study, seven aromatic VOCs such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, chlorobenzene, m-xylene, p-chlorotoluene and p-chlorotrifluorotoluene were used as the only carbon source, and four strains of highly efficient degrading bacteria were screened from the soil of chemical contaminated sites, then the synthetic bacterial consortium was constructed after mixing with an existing functional strain (Bacillus benzoevorans) preserved in the laboratory. After that, the synthetic bacterial consortium was used to explore the degradation effect of simulated aromatic VOCs polluted wastewater. The results showed that the functional bacterium could metabolize with aromatic VOCs as the only carbon source and energy. Meanwhile, the growth of the synthetic bacterial consortium increased with the additional carbon resources and the alternative of organic nitrogen source. Ultimately, the applicability of the synthetic bacterial consortium in organic contaminated sites was explored through the study of broad-spectrum activity.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

A high-efficient synthetic bacterial consortium was constructed to degrade aromatic VOCs.

Additional carbon and alternative of organic nitrogen can effectively promote the degradation.

Degradation rate of total aromatic VOCs gained over 75% by the synthetic bacterial consortium.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This project was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 51974279), the National Key Research & Development Program of China [grant numbers 2018YFC18018, 2018YFC18027], KeJunPing [2018] No. 159, the Guangxi Scientific Research and Technology Development Plan [grants numbers GuikeAB16380287, GuikeAB17129025], GRINM Science and Development [grants number 2020 No 75], which are greatly appreciated.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China, 51974279

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Metallurgy in Producing Premium Non-Ferrous Metals, GRINM Group Co., Ltd, Beijing, 101407, China

    Ying Lv, Liangshi Wang, Xingyu Liu, Bowei Chen & Mingjiang Zhang

  2. School of Metallurgical and Ecological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Ying Lv

  3. GRINM Resources and Environment Tech. Co., Ltd, Beijing, 101407, China

    Ying Lv, Liangshi Wang, Bowei Chen & Mingjiang Zhang

  4. General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing, 100088, China

    Ying Lv, Liangshi Wang, Xingyu Liu, Bowei Chen & Mingjiang Zhang

  5. Institute of Earth Science, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    Xingyu Liu

  6. Shenzhen Green-Tech Institute of Applied Environmental Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, 518001, China

    Xingyu Liu

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  1. Ying Lv
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  2. Liangshi Wang
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Correspondence to Xingyu Liu.

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Lv, Y., Wang, L., Liu, X. et al. Construction and function of a high-efficient synthetic bacterial consortium to degrade aromatic VOCs. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 46, 851–865 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-023-02869-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-023-02869-2

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