Biodegradation of Phenanthrene by Psychrotrophic Bacteria from Lake Baikal

Psychrotrophic phenanthrene-degrading bacteria were identified in the sediment samples collected from Lake Baikal, Russia. Among 70 phenanthrene-degrading isolates, the seven that had the highest phenanthrene-degradation rates were identified by 16S rDNA sequencing. Isolate P25, identified as the Gram-positive rod-shaped organism Rhodococcus erythropolis, had the highest growth and degradation rate at $15^{\circ}C$. It could remove $26.0\%$ of 100 mg $1^{-1}$ phenanthrene in 20 days at $15^{\circ}C$, and degradation was less at $5^{\circ}C\;and\;25^{\circ}C$. The addition of surfactants to enhance degradation was tested. Brij 30 and Triton X-100 inhibited degradation at all surfactant concentrations tested, but Tween 80 stimulated phenanthrene degradation, especially at low concentrations. When $20{\times}$ CMC (critical micelle concentration) of Tween 80 was added, $38.0\%$ of 100 mg $1^{-1}$ phenanthrene was degraded in 12 days at $15^{\circ}C$. This psychrotrophic phenanthrene-degrading bacterium is a candidate for use in bioremediation of polycyclic hydrocarbon contamination in low temperature environments.