Enhanced degradation and mineralization of phenol by combining two highly efficient strains with divergent ring-cleavage pathways

Pseudomonas stutzeri N2 and Rhodococcus qingshengii FF were combined to enhance phenol degradation, and the interaction mechanism of microorganisms was investigated. The cells in the culture of mixed strain degrading 1000 mg/L phenol exhibited a rapid growth and proliferation, and the maximum cell density of mixed strain was 34.6 ± 0.3% and 60.8 ± 0.2% higher than the single strain N2 and strain FF respectively. The degradation of phenol by mixed strain was completed within 24 h, and the phenol mineralization efficiency was up to 84.9 ± 0.4%. In addition, two ring-cleavage products of catechol accumulating from the culture of mixed strain were markedly reduced. Through the analysis of intermediates and functional groups, the enhanced phenol degradation by mixed strain was found to mainly depend on the synergistic effect of strain N2 served as an oxidant and strain FF acted as a reductant. Based on the synergic mechanism, the mixed strain might be used as a promising bacterial agent for removing phenolic compounds from the industrial wastewater.