DETECTION OF PAH DEGRADING BACTERIAL ISOLATES USING A RAPID FLUOROMETRIC METHOD

A rapid screening method is described for the detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) mineralizing bacteria isolated from sewage sludge of a reactor system using fluorometry. The test was performed i n glass tubes containing different PAH (either anthracene and acenapht hene, or phenanthrene). After inoculation, the removal of PAH in test tubes was determined by using synchron scanning of the fluorometric wa velengths with a distance between excitation and emission of 45 nm (fo r acenaphthene and anthracene) or 98 nm (for phenanthrene). This paper reports the suitability of solvents for different PAH, the fluorometr ic test system compared with photometric methods, and the application of the test for screening PAH degrading isolates from a complex reacto r system.