Simultaneous enhancement of phenolic compound degradations by Acinetobacter strain V2 via a step-wise continuous acclimation process.

Phenol degradation enhancement of Acinetobacter strain V-2 by a step-wise continuous acclimation process was investigated. At the end of 8months, three stable adapted strains, designated as R, G, and Y, were developed with the sub-lethal concentration of phenol at 800, 1100, and 1400mg/L, respectively, from 400 mg/L of V-2 parent strain. All strains degraded phenol at their sub-lethal level within 24h, their growth rate increased as the acclimation process continued and retained their degradation properties even after storing at -80 degrees C for more than 3years. All adapted strains appeared coccoid with an ungranulated surface under electron microscope compared to typical rod-shaped parental strain V-2. The adapted Y strain also possessed superior degradation ability against aniline, benzoate, and toluene. This study demonstrated the use of long term acclimation process to develop efficient and better pollutant degrading bacterial strains with potentials in industrial and environmental bioremediation.