Thesis
Degradation of monoaromatic compounds by an aerobic halotolerant alkaliphilic bacterium
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2005
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/392
Abstract
Extremophiles are microorganisms able to survive in extreme conditions, and are gaining interest in such areas as industrial waste-stream clean up and synthesis of useful chemical products. A new aerobic, halotolerant, alkaliphilic bacterial specie has been isolated from Soap Lake, WA, and has been shown to most closely match the genus Thauera of the [Beta]-Proteobacteria. This project investigated the biodegradation capability of this isolate to transform various single-ring aromatic compounds with respect to metabolism and reaction kinetics. The presence of these monoaromatic compounds in the effluent of lignocellulose-processing industries is problematic because they cannot be effectively removed by conventional wastewater treatment in anaerobic digesters, making an additional pre-treatment step necessary. While most non-extremophilic bacteria are adversely affected by many of these aromatic acids, the halotolerant alkaliphile described here does not show effects of phenolic toxicity. Complete degradation of the lignin hydrolysis products coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and vanillic acid as the sole carbon and energy source was observed, along with the appearance of metabolites that may be potentially useful as natural reagents for numerous industries. As an alternative to dilution or chemical pre-treatments of industrial waste streams, biological remediation approaches may be more attractive for environmental and economical reasons.
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Details
- Title
- Degradation of monoaromatic compounds by an aerobic halotolerant alkaliphilic bacterium
- Creators
- Catherine Elizabeth Albaugh
- Contributors
- Brent M. Peyton (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525066501842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis