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Isolation of a diphenylamine-degrading bacterium and characterization of its metabolic capacities, bioremediation and bioaugmentation potential

Environmental Science and Pollution Research volume 22, pages 19485–19496 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

The antioxidant diphenylamine (DPA) is used in fruit-packaging plants for the control of the physiological disorder apple scald. Its use results in the production of DPA-contaminated wastewater which should be treated before finally discharged. Biological treatment systems using tailored-made microbial inocula with specific catabolic activities comprise an appealing and sustainable solution. This study aimed to isolate DPA-degrading bacteria, identify the metabolic pathway of DPA and evaluate their potential for future implementation in bioremediation and biodepuration applications. A Pseudomonas putida strain named DPA1 able to rapidly degrade and utilize DPA as the sole C and N source was enriched from a DPA-contaminated soil. The isolated strain degraded spillage-level concentrations of DPA in liquid culture (2000 mg L−1) and in contaminated soil (1000 mg kg−1) and metabolized DPA via the transient formation of aniline and catechol. Further evidence for the bioremediation and biodepuration potential of the P. putida strain DPA1 was provided by its capacity to degrade the post-harvest fungicide ortho-phenylphenol (OPP), concurrently used by the fruit-packaging plants, although at slower rates and DPA in a wide range of pH (4.5–9) and temperatures (15–37 °C). These findings revealed the high potential of the P. putida strain DPA1 for use in future soil bioremediation strategies and/or as start-up inocula in wastewater biodepuration systems.

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Acknowledgments

Dr. Chiara Perruchon was financially supported by the State Scholarship Foundation (I.K.Y.) of Greece. This study was financially supported by the Postgraduate Program “Biotechnology-Quality assessment in Nutrition and the Environment”, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly and by the research project BIOREMEDIATOMICS implemented under the “ARISTEIA” Action of the “OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING” and is co-funded by the European Social Fund and National Resources.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Ploutonos 26 and Aiolou Str, 41221, Larissa, Greece

    Chiara Perruchon, Christos Batianis, Stelios Zouborlis, Evangelia S. Papadopoulou & Dimitrios G. Karpouzas

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, Laboratory of Wastewater Management and Treatment Technologies, Democritus University of Thrace, Vas. Sofias 12, 67100, Xanthi, Greece

    Spyridon Ntougias

  3. Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, Australia

    Sotirios Vasileiadis

Authors
  1. Chiara Perruchon
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  2. Christos Batianis
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  3. Stelios Zouborlis
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  4. Evangelia S. Papadopoulou
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  5. Spyridon Ntougias
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  6. Sotirios Vasileiadis
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  7. Dimitrios G. Karpouzas
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Correspondence to Dimitrios G. Karpouzas.

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Perruchon, C., Batianis, C., Zouborlis, S. et al. Isolation of a diphenylamine-degrading bacterium and characterization of its metabolic capacities, bioremediation and bioaugmentation potential. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 19485–19496 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5132-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5132-0

Keywords

  • Diphenylamine
  • Fruit-packaging industry
  • Pseudomonas putida
  • Pesticide biodegradation
  • Bioremediation
  • Biodepuration

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