New benzo(a)pyrene-degrading strains of the Burkholderia cepacia complex prospected from activated sludge in a petrochemical wastewater treatment plant

The prospection of bacteria that are resistant to polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) activated sludge from a Petrochemical Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) allows investigating potential biodegraders PAH. For this purpose, samples were cultured with benzo(a)pyrene and/or naphthalene as carbon sources. recovered isolates characterized by biochemical methods and identified based on the analysis sequence three genes: 16S, recA gyrB. isolated strains shown be capable producing surfactants, which important for compound degradation. ability reduce in vitro was tested gas chromatography. After 20 days experiment, consortium enriched 1 mg/L able 30% when compared control without bacteria. four significantly reduced belong Burkholderia cepacia complex within species B. cenocepacia IIIa, vietnamiensis, cepacia, multivorans. This finding demonstrates biotechnological use wastewater treatment bioremediation. Previous studies hydrocarbon-degrading focused mainly contaminated soil or marine areas. In work, prospected WWTP showed indigenous used both improving systems bioremediation areas petrochemical waste.