Biotreatment of persistent substances using effective microorganisms

Abstract

To efficiently biotreat the persistent substances contained in wastewater, it is necessary to fully elucidate the degradation mechanisms of the substances by specific degrading microorganisms. Especially clarifying the enzymatic reactions responsible for the degradation of persistent substances is very important. Here three different kinds of aerobic or oxidative degradation reactions of persistent substances are introduced. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) degradation by Pseudomonas vesicularis var. povalolyticus strain PH, co-oxidative degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) by a variety of phenol degrading bacteria, and decolorization of melanoidin by a white rot fungus Coriolus hirsutus were shown.