COMETABOLIC BIOREMEDIATION OF 4-CHLOROPHENOL CONTAMINATED RIVER WATER BY Pseudomonas putida

Laboratory and field studies on cometabolic biodegradation of phenol /4-chlorophenol (4-CP) using Pseudomonas putida were conducted. The results showed that both substrates could be completely degraded with a sufficient ratio of phenol to 4-CP varied from 1.25 to 12.38 when the initial 4-CP concentration was lower than 45 mg/L in laboratory conditions. Small-scale field studies showed that phenol and 4-CP in river water can be completely removed in summer (25 degrees C) by Pseudomonas putida in natural environment, and more than 50% of phenol/4-CP could be effectively biodegraded during other seasons. It might be feasible and practical to apply Pseudomonas putida for the bioremediation of phenolic-contaminated environment.