Abstract
The present study details about the biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane by Rhodanobacter AYS5 isolated from bacterial consortia enriched from industrial sludge. Rhodanobacter AYS5 potently degraded 95 % of 1,4-dioxane (1000 ppm) in 10 days as sole carbon source. To accelerate the growth of Rhodanobacter AYS5 and to reduce the time taken for degradation, additional carbon source (glucose, yeast extract and tetrahydrofuran) were added and analysed. The study revealed that, yeast extract and tetrahydrofuran (THF) accelerated the degradation of 1,4-dioxane by reducing the time taken for degradation. Growth on glucose reduced the degradation potential of the bacterial strain. Study on carbondioxide evolution and metabolites formation confirmed complete mineralisation of 1,4-dioxane by Rhodanobacter AYS5. Further study on different concentration of 1,4-dioxane with and without additional substrate (THF and yeast extract) revealed that, Rhodanobacter AYS5 is a promising bacterial strain for 1,4-dioxane degradation. In lab scale reactor study with industrial wastewater, Rhodanobacter AYS5 showed 91% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, and complete degradation of 1,4-dioxane and THF in 5 days. The 1,4-dioxane degrading bacterial strain was identified as Rhodanobacter AYS5 (JQ419753) using molecular and biochemical techniques.