Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.ibiod.2010.10.015
Title (Primary) Interactions between rhamnolipid biosurfactants and toxic chlorinated phenols enhance biodegradation of a model hydrocarbon-rich effluent
Author Chrzanowski, Ł.; Owsianiak, M.; Szulc, A.; Marecik, R.; Piotrowska-Cyplik, A.; Olejnik-Schmidt, A.K.; Staniewski, J.; Lisiecki, P.; Ciesielczyk, F.; Jesionowski, T.; Heipieper, H.J. ORCID logo
Source Titel International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation
Year 2011
Department UBT
Volume 65
Issue 4
Page From 605
Page To 611
Language englisch
Keywords Wastewater; 4-Chlorophenol; 2,4-Dichlorophenol; Diesel fuel; Rhamnolipids; Toxicity
Abstract

Surfactant-mediated treatment increases hydrocarbon solubilization and potentially facilitates biodegradation, unless toxic co-contaminants inhibiting microbial activity are present in the hydrocarbon mixture. We assessed the effect of rhamnolipids on the performance of a bacterial consortium degrading diesel fuel employed as a model hydrocarbon-rich effluent, co-contaminated with toxic phenol, 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) or 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP). This approach led to the unexpected finding that rhamnolipids reduced toxicity of 4-CP and 2,4-DCP to the hydrocarbon-degrading cells. The facts that rhamnolipids decreased diesel fuel – water partition coefficient (KFW) of 4-CP and 2,4-DCP and modified aggregate size distribution profiles of the dispersed diesel fuel – chlorinated phenols solutions, suggest the existence of specific interactions between rhamnolipids and the co-contaminants. Due to the polar nature of 4-CP and 2,4-DCP, possible explanations involve adsorption of 4-CP and 2,4-DCP on the surface of biosurfactant aggregates. This property of rhamnolipids is of interest to those using biosurfactants for microbial treatment of hydrocarbon-rich wastewaters co-contaminated with toxic compounds.

Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=11038
Chrzanowski, Ł., Owsianiak, M., Szulc, A., Marecik, R., Piotrowska-Cyplik, A., Olejnik-Schmidt, A.K., Staniewski, J., Lisiecki, P., Ciesielczyk, F., Jesionowski, T., Heipieper, H.J. (2011):
Interactions between rhamnolipid biosurfactants and toxic chlorinated phenols enhance biodegradation of a model hydrocarbon-rich effluent
Int. Biodeterior. Biodegrad. 65 (4), 605 - 611 10.1016/j.ibiod.2010.10.015