Biodegradation of p-Chloro Meta Xylenol (PCMX) and modelling of degradation kinetic analysis using Pandoraea sp.

p-Chloro Meta Xylenol (PCMX) is resistant to biodegradation and may cause health hazards. Removal of this toxic material from waste waters is required to protect the environment and human health. Two phenol degrading bacteria e.g. BT102 and BT201 having accession numbers JQ80423 and JQ595990 respectively were isolated and used for conducting bioremediation study of PCMX. These bacterial strains could resist high concentration of PCMX (1566 mg L-1). Biomass was harvested from the growth medium and freeze dried followed by encapsulation in biocompatible calcium alginate beads. These beads were used for bioremediation of PCMX in spiked water samples containing 10 mg L-1 to 100 mg L-1 of PCMX. A removal efficiency of 99% was achieved in this process. Degradation kinetics of PCMX was studied with initial PCMX concentration ranging from 1 mg L-1 to 100 mg L-1. The degradation kinetics followed Haldane's model showing higher substrate affinity constant value of 0.723 mg L-1 with R-2 = 0.9508. The bacterial species (BT102 and BT201) proved to be useful in remediating PCMX from water when used in alginate beads and the degradation rate could be predicted by a simple kinetic model.