Screening of xenobiotic compounds degrading microorganisms using biosensortechniques

A screening device based on microorganisms immobilised onto a Clark-type ox ygen electrode was used to monitor the potential of these microorganisms fo r the degradation and detection of xenobiotic compounds especially their ch lorinated derivatives. The sensitivity and specificity of various species o f Pseudomonas, Sphinomonas, Ralstonia, Rhodococcus were characterised in re lation to xenobiotic compounds by using biosensor techniques. The following groups of xenobiotics were subjects of investigation: chlorophenols, chlor obenzoates, 2,4-D, PCB, dibenzofurane and their putative intermediates. Usi ng this simple setup it proved possible to screen microbial strains for the ir potential to catabolize aromatic and chloroaromatic coumpounds under oxy gen consumption. In a kinetic regime, a reproducible signal was obtained wi thin minutes. Based on these results the sensor technique was a suitable me thod for the rapid characterization of microorganisms and allowed to gather information about the substrate spectrum.