Phenol Biodegradation and Bioelectricity Generation by a Native Bacterial Consortium Isolated from Petroleum Refinery Wastewater

Abstract

Phenolic compounds are highly toxic, along with being one of the most persistent substances in petroleum refinery effluents. The most potent solution is through phenol bioremediation to produce demi-water and bioenergy, which are two effective outcomes for a single process. Fifteen genetically identified native bacterial strains were isolated from the effluents of the petrochemical industry plant (AMOC, Egypt) and were investigated for potential phenol biodegradation activity and energy bioproduction individually and as a consortium in a batch culture. Successful and safe phenol biodegradation was achieved (99.63%) using a native bacterial consortium after statistical optimization (multifactorial central composite design) with bioelectricity generation that reached 3.13 × 10−6 mW/cm3. In conclusion, the native consortium was highly potent in the bioremediation process of petroleum refinery wastewater, protecting the environment from potential phenol pollution with the ability to generate an electrical current through the bioremediation process.

Characterization of Differential Markers among Crude Oil Samples Using UPLC-QE-MS/MS and Multivariate Statistical Analysis

“…When groundwater in oil-producing areas is contaminated, the differences in O 1 compounds between two sets of crude oil samples could be used to identify the source of pollution . The majority of detected O 1 compounds were phenolic compounds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and phenol is a common type of highly toxic and difficult-to-degrade organic pollutant generated in the petroleum refining process . Phenol is highly polar and weakly hydrophobic and can dissolve in groundwater.…”

“…40 The majority of detected O 1 compounds were phenolic compounds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, 41 and phenol is a common type of highly toxic and difficult-to-degrade organic pollutant generated in the petroleum refining process. 42 Phenol is highly polar and weakly hydrophobic and can dissolve in groundwater.…”

The Optimization, Kinetics Model, and Lab-Scale Assessments of Phenol Biodegradation Using Batch and Continuous Culture Systems

“…Microorganisms (15 strains) were previously isolated from static wastewater effluents collected from Alexandria Mineral Oils Co "AMOC" and identified using 16S rDNA sequencing. Six bacterial strains were used in the present study, namely: Bacillus subtilis MW585596, Staphylococcus equorum MW585694, Bacillus benzoevorans MW597321, Bacillus circulans MW597408, Pseudomonas aeruginosa MW598228, and Burkholderia cepacia MW579472 [11].…”