Biodegradation of tributyl phosphate using Klebsiella pneumoniae sp. S3

• Published in: Applied microbiology and biotechnology Vol. 98; no. 2; pp. 919 - 929
• Main Authors: Kulkarni, S. V, Markad, V. L, Melo, J. S, D’Souza, S. F, Kodam, K. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01-01-2014; Springer Berlin Heidelberg; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Antioxidants; Bacteria; Bioassays; Biodegradation; biomarkers; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Bioremediation; Biotechnology; Biotransformation; Catalase; Comet Assay; Consortia; Defense mechanisms; Degradation; Environmental aspects; Environmental Biotechnology; Environmental impact; Environmental Pollutants - metabolism; Environmental Pollutants - toxicity; Enzymes; Fuel reprocessing; fuels; Genetic aspects; Glucose; glutathione transferase; Hazardous substances; Industrial wastes; Klebsiella; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Klebsiella pneumoniae - growth & development; Klebsiella pneumoniae - isolation & purification; Klebsiella pneumoniae - metabolism; Life Sciences; Metabolism; Metabolites; Microbial degradation; Microbial Genetics and Genomics; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Mutagenicity Tests; Nuclear fuels; Organophosphates - metabolism; Organophosphates - toxicity; Oxidative Stress; Phosphates; Physiological aspects; Plasticizers; reactive oxygen species; soil; Soil contaminants; Soil Microbiology; Strain; Studies; superoxide dismutase; Toxicity; India; Oxidative stress; GC-HRMS analysis; Tributyl phosphate
• ISSN: 0175-7598; 1432-0614
• DOI: 10.1007/s00253-013-4938-2

Tributyl phosphate (TBP) has enormous applications in the field of extraction, fuel reprocessing, as defoamers and/or plasticizers. Excessive usage of this organophosphorus compound, poses an environmental threat. The present study deals with microbial degradation of TBP using Klebsiella pneumoniae S3 isolated from the soil. Diauxic growth curve pattern explains a preferential utilization of TBP. The strain S3 was able to biotransform TBP (1,000 mg L⁻¹) to dibutyl phosphate within 48 h and showed higher tolerance towards TBP up to 17.0 g L⁻¹. Toxicity of the parent as well as degraded product was assessed using comet assay. Generation of reactive oxygen species elaborates the oxidative stress imposed upon the bacterial strain by TBP. The antioxidant defense mechanism was studied using various biomarkers namely catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, and superoxide dismutase. The present study describes a faster and eco-friendly alternative for disposal of TBP.