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Biodegradation of furfuryl alcohol by indigenous Bacillus species of industrial effluent-contaminated sites: estimation, biokinetics and toxicity assessment of bio-transformed metabolites

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Abstract

Furfuryl alcohol (FA) and other furanic compounds have garnered considerable attention in the quest for sustainable alternatives. FA-based resins have been used in various sectors that entail the release of FA into the environment. Hence, to ensure sustainability in this scenario, devising a dependable approach to its degradation is imperative. Given the crucial role of bacterial strains in the biodegradation of various organic pollutants, this study investigates the microbial degradation of FA, using bacterial strains isolated from sites that are constantly exposed to industrial waste. Three potential isolates were identified as B. paramycoides, B. cereus, and B. tequilensis by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. At a concentration of 300 µg/ml, these isolates demonstrated efficient FA degradation; 60–70% (at 300 µg/ml FA) and 50–60%, (at 500 µg/ml FA). Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis further supported the result that the bacterial isolates consumed FA as the carbon source. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS) facilitates the detection of the major metabolic intermediate product in which FA gets transformed. The prominent peaks at 113 and 119 m/z obtained in the MS spectra of the degraded FA samples indicated the possibility of the conversion of FA into furoic acid or levulinic acid. The phytotoxicity bioassay findings revealed the non-toxic nature of the bio-transformed products as compared to pure FA. This investigation presents the initial documentation of the FA degradative potential of Bacillus strains, thereby augmenting the understanding of the prospective implementation of Bacillus species in industrial waste treatment projects.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are grateful to Central instrumental facility, IIT BHU Varanasi for providing SEM facility. Authors are also thankful to BITS Pilani, Goa campus for providing LC-MS services.

Funding

Author Ms. Priyaragini Singh is grateful to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India, for financial assistance in the form of Senior Research fellowship grant (Sanction Letter No. 09/1144(0002)/2018-EMR-1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Central University of South Bihar, Gaya, 824236, India

    Priyaragini Singh & Rakesh Kumar

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India

    Hagera Dilnashin & Surya Pratap Singh

  3. Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Patna, 801106, India

    Kotnees Dinesh Kumar

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  1. Priyaragini Singh
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  4. Surya Pratap Singh
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PS: conceived of or designed study, performed research, wrote the paper, analysed data, HD: performed research, analysed data, KDK: analysed data, SPS: analysed data, RK: supervisor, conceived and designed study, analysed data.

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Correspondence to Rakesh Kumar.

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Only subscription based. Few preliminary data of the study have been presented at POLYCHAR 2020 (Venice, Italy) International Polymer Characterization Forum and published in proceedings in Macromolecular Symposia, Wiley.

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Singh, P., Dilnashin, H., Kumar, K.D. et al. Biodegradation of furfuryl alcohol by indigenous Bacillus species of industrial effluent-contaminated sites: estimation, biokinetics and toxicity assessment of bio-transformed metabolites. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 40, 28 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-023-03824-9

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