Enhanced biodegradation of mixed phenol and sodium salicylate by Pseudomonas putida in membrane contactors

A polypropylene (PP) hollow fiber membrane contactor was used as a reactor to enhance the biodegradation of equimolar phenol and sodium salicylate (SA) by Pseudomonas putida CCRC 14365 at 30 °C and pH 7. Experiments were performed at a fixed initial cell density of 0.025 g/L and in the total substrate level range 5.32–63.8 mM. The degradation experiments by free cells were also studied for comparison. With pristine hydrophobic fibers, the degradation of SA was started only after phenol was completely consumed. Substrate inhibitory effect was avoided due to sufficiently low substrate levels in the cell medium; however, the biodegradation was time consuming. With ethanol-wetted fibers, both substrates were completely degraded much faster than the use of pristine fibers. Although the wetted fibers were unable to prevent movement of substrates through the pores, biofilm formed on the outer surfaces of the fibers could enhance the tolerance limit of substrate toxicity. This greatly extended the treatment range to high-level substrate mixtures, as long as the water was nearly neutral and free of concentrated inorganic salts.