Isolation, Screening and Identification of Phenol-Degrading Bacteria from Coking Wastewater

Phenol is the most common pollutant which can be found in several types of industries. It is highly toxic to human beings. To seek the best phenol-degrading bacteria, we collected activated sludge from an aeration tank of the coking wastewater treatment plant, Benxi Iron and Steel Corporation. Five phenol-degrading strains, designated BS3, BS4, BS23, BS28 and BS29, were isolated and screened from activated sludge. Under the conditions of initial phenol 500 mg•L-1,170 rpm and 28°C, the removal efficiencies of BS3, BS4, BS23, BS28 and BS29 strains reached to 79.6%±1.8%, 55.2%±1.0%, 62.4%±2.6%, 78.6%±2.0% and 61.2%±1.9% within 24 h, respectively. By a series of morphological and biochemical and physiological tests, the five phenol-degrading bacteria were identified. The results indicated that they were Pseudomonas spp.. Hence these strains can be effectively used for bioremediation of phenol contaminated water.