Isolation and characteristics of Arthrobacter sp. strain CW-1 for biodegradation of PAEs

Isolation of new bacterial strains and recognition of their metabolic activities are highly desirable for sustainability of natural ecosystems. Biodegradation of dimethyl phthalate (DMP) under anoxic conditions has been shown to occur as a series of sequential steps using strain CW-1 isolated from digested sludge of Sibao Wastewater Treatment Plant in Hangzhou, China. The microbial colony on LB medium was yellowish, 3∼5 mm in diameter, convex in the center, and embedded in mucous externally. The individual cells of strain CW-1 are irregular rods, measuring (0.6∼0.7)×(0.9∼1.0) μm, V-shaped, with clubbed ends, Gram positive and without any filaments. 16S rDNA (1438 bp) sequence analysis showed that the strain was related to Arthrobacter sp. CW-1 and can degrade PAEs utilizing nitrate as electron acceptor, but cannot mineralize DMP completely. The degradation pathway was recommended as: dimethyl phthalate (DMP)→monomethyl phthalate (MMP)→phthalic acid (PA). DMP biodegradation was a first order reaction with degradation rate constant of 0.3033 d−1 and half-life 2.25 d. The DMP conversion to PA by CW-1 could be described by using sequential kinetic model.