Bacterial elimination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals

The elimination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in the presence and absence of heavy metals by bacteria isolated from a contaminated area of Poland was examined. Among fifty four isolates ten strains had an abilit y to utilize at least one of the following xenobiotic substrates: anthracen e (250 mg/l), phenanthrene (250 mg/l) and pentachlorophenol (10 mg/l) at a rate of 50-100%. The strains were also found to be able to grow at high con centration of lead added as a lead acetate. The isolated strain, most activ e in utilization of applied xenobiotics was identified as Rhodococcus equi. Although the degradation of anthracene was inhibited in the presence of le ad acetate, protein synthesis and the xenobiotic uptake was observed (at le ad concentration of 1000 mg/l). Acetate as a more readily metabolized organ ic substrate was found as a co-metabolic substrate. The further experiments with cells entrapped on glass membrane filter indicated that Rhodococcus e qui IM 6KB3 could be useful for the rapid removal of lead and anthracene fr om contaminated liquids.