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Biodegradation of phenol by Isochrysis galbana screened from eight species of marine microalgae: growth kinetic models, enzyme analysis and biodegradation pathway

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Abstract

Isochrysis galbana MACC/H59 was screened from eight strains of marine microalgae to investigate its capability for phenol biodegradation. Batch incubation experiments were performed for 25 to 200 mg L−1 initial phenol concentrations. Five growth inhibitory kinetic models were used to fit the experimental data. The specific activities of phenol hydroxylase and catechol dioxygenase in I. galbana are measured. The results showed that phenol, at concentrations of less than 100 mg L−1, could be completely degraded in 4 days. The growth kinetics of I. galbana under different phenol concentrations were best fitted with a Yano model among five kinetics models tested. The values of substrate inhibition constant (117.59 mg L−1), limiting substrate concentration (183.90 mg L−1) and optimal substrate concentration (81.46 mg L−1) for phenol biodegradation of I. galbana were also obtained with the Yano model. The phenol biodegradation in I. galbana was mainly catalysed by intracellular enzymes. The ortho-pathway is significantly predominant over the meta-pathway in phenol metabolism in I. galbana. High concentrations of phenol significantly inhibited the activity of phenol hydroxylase, but had no obvious effect on catechol dioxygenase. Isochrysis galbana may be a suitable marine microalgal species for use in environmental restoration operations after accidental spills of phenol at sea.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Marine Hazard Mitigation Service, China through a commissioned research scheme (Grant no. 2016AA024).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, People’s Republic of China

    Yuejie Wang, Fanping Meng, Hao Li, Shilin Zhao & Qunqun Liu

  2. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Songling Road 238, Qingdao, 266100, People’s Republic of China

    Fanping Meng

  3. National Marine Hazard Mitigation Service, State Oceanic Administration of China, Beijing, 100194, People’s Republic of China

    Yufei Lin, Guoshan Wang & Jiangyue Wu

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  1. Yuejie Wang
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  2. Fanping Meng
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  3. Hao Li
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  4. Shilin Zhao
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Correspondence to Fanping Meng.

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Wang, Y., Meng, F., Li, H. et al. Biodegradation of phenol by Isochrysis galbana screened from eight species of marine microalgae: growth kinetic models, enzyme analysis and biodegradation pathway. J Appl Phycol 31, 445–455 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-018-1517-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-018-1517-z

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