Bioremediation of OCDF-contaminated soils by novel bacterial strain

In this study, effectiveness of using Pseudomonas mendocina NSYSU (P. mendocina NSYSU) on the bioremediation of octachlorinated dibenzofuran (OCDF)-polluted soils was evaluated through microcosm experiments and gene analys is under anaerobic conditions. The major tasks were to investigate the (1) feasibility of enhancing anaerobic OCDF dechlorination by P. mendocina NSYSU and lecithin, and (2) functional genes for the anaerobic biodegradation of OCDF. Results show that P. mendocina NSYSU was able to degrade OCDF through the anaerobic dechlorinating mechanisms. Results show that lecithin was used as the carbon source and OCDF desorption additive during the dechlorination of OCDF. Lecithin supplement could enhance the biodegradation rate of OCDF. Up to 68 and 61% of OCDF was removed after a 64-day operation with lecithin and nutrient broth supplement, respectively. Results indicate that primary substrate supplement is required for the enhancement of reductive dechlorination of OCDF. Five functional genes encoding the hydrolase in P. mendocina NSYSU were identified. The detected specific genes played important roles in OCDF dechlorination. Results reveal that a bioremediation system using P. mendocina NSYSU as the inocula would be a cost-effective and acceptable remedial system to remediate furan-polluted soils.