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Analytical study of effective biodegradation of p-cresol using Serratia marcescens ABHI001: application in bioremediation

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Abstract

This study evaluated the capability of Serratia marcescens ABHI001 to effectively degrade p-cresol through different techniques. The molecular identity of the laboratory isolate S. marcescens ABHI001 was confirmed through the 16S ribosomal DNA gene pattern, and its morphological features were investigated through field-emission scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the degradation behavior of the isolate for cresol was verified using several techniques, including UV–visible spectroscopy, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The maximum degradation percentage of 85% for p-cresol could be achieved after 18 h of incubation with S. marcescens ABHI001. The formation of p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, p-hydroxybenzoate, and protocatechuate metabolites was confirmed through HPLC. The study results indicate that S. marcescens ABHI001 may have applications in the bioremediation of organic pollutants, such as p-cresol.

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Acknowledgements

The authors T.S., A.K.B., N.S., and P.K.M. acknowledge the Department of Chemical Engineering & Technology IIT (BHU), Varanasi, India, for conducting this study. The authors N.S. and P.K.M. acknowledge IIT (BHU), Varanasi, India, for providing the Institute Post-Doctoral Fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, GLA University, Mathura, U.P., 281406, India

    Tripti Singh & A. K. Bhatiya

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, IIT (BHU), Varanasi, U.P., 221005, India

    Tripti Singh, Neha Srivastava & P. K. Mishra

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  1. Tripti Singh
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  2. Neha Srivastava
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  3. A. K. Bhatiya
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Correspondence to P. K. Mishra.

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Singh, T., Srivastava, N., Bhatiya, A.K. et al. Analytical study of effective biodegradation of p-cresol using Serratia marcescens ABHI001: application in bioremediation. 3 Biotech 7, 384 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-017-1006-0

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