A comparative study of biodegradation of vinyl acetate by environmental strains

Abstract

Four Gram-negative strains, E3-2001, EC1-2004, EC3-3502 and EC2-3502, previously isolated from soil samples, were subjected to comparative studies in order to select the best vinyl acetate degrader for waste gas treatment. Comparison of biochemical and physiological tests as well as the results of fatty acids analyses were comparable with the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses. The isolated strains were identified as Pseudomonas putida EC3-2001, Pseudomonas putida EC1-2004, Achromobacter xylosoxidans EC3-3502 and Agrobacterium sp. EC2-3502 strains. Two a dd it io na l str ai ns, Pseudomonas fluorescens PCM 2123 and Stenotrophomonas malthophilia KB2, were used as controls. All described strains were able to use vinyl acetate as the only source of carbon and energy under aerobic as well as oxygen deficiency conditions. Esterase, alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase were involved in vinyl acetate decomposition under aerobic conditions. Shorter degradation times of vinyl acetate were associated with accumulation of acetic acid, acetaldehyde and ethanol as intermediates in the culture fluids of EC3-2001 and KB2 strains. Complete aerobic degradation of vinyl acetate combined with a low increase in biomass was observed for EC3-2001 and EC1-2004 strains. In conclusion, P. putida EC1-2004 is proposed as the best vinyl acetate degrader for future waste gas treatment in trickle-bed bioreactors. © The Author(s) 2010..