Biodegradation of diethyl-phthalate (DEP) by halotolerant bacteria isolated from an estuarine environment

Author(s)

Perpetuo, Elen Aquino ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; da Silva, Esther Cecilia Nunes ^[1] ; Karolski, Bruno ^[2] ; do Nascimento, Claudio Augusto Oller ^{[2, 4]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Interunits Grad Program Biotechnol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Environm Res & Educ Ctr, CEPEMA POLI USP, Rod Conego Domenico Rangoni, 270 Km, Cubatao, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Marine Sci, IMar UNIFESP, Ave Carvalho de Mendonca 144, Santos, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Chem Engn, POLI USP, Ave Lineu Prestes 580, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BIODEGRADATION; v. 31, n. 4-6, p. 331-340, DEC 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Phthalates are widely used as plasticizers in many industrial products due to their chemical properties that confer flexibility and durability to building materials, lubricants, solvents, insect repellents, clothing, cosmetics, being widely distributed in the environment. Besides persistent, they are also considered endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), causing a global concern about their release into the environment, once they can alter the reproductive and endocrine health of humans systems. Under natural conditions, photodegradation and hydrolysis rates of phthalates are often very slow; therefore, microbial degradation is a natural way to treat these pollutants. In this context, three bacterial consortia (CMS, GMS and GMSS) were isolated from environmental samples from the Santos Estuarine System (SES) and were able to grow on diethyl-phthalate (DEP) as an only carbon source. From the GMSS consortium, three different strains were isolated and identified asBurkholderia cepacia,Pseudomonas koreensisandRalstonia pickettiiby molecular and mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-Biotyper) techniques. Considering there are no reports about Ralstonia genus on phthalates degradation, this strain was chosen to proceed the kinetics experiments.Ralstonia pickettiirevealed a great ability to degrade DEP (300 mg/L) in less than 24 h. This is the first report implicatingR. pickettiiin DEP degradation. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/10720-1 - Optimization of conditions for biodegradation of phthalate by bacteria isolated from the marine environment
• Grantee: Esther Cecilia Nunes da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation