M. H. Hamdan ¹, M. A. Othaman ¹, Z. Suhaili ², M. S. Shukor ³, M. I. E. Halmi ⁴, S. R. S. Abdullah ⁴, N. A. Shamaan ⁵, M. Y. Shukor ⁶

Affiliations
1 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM 43400 Serdang, Selangor, MY
2 Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Universiti Sultan ZainalAbidin, Gong Badak, 21300 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, MY
3 Snoc International SdnBhd, Lot 343, Jalan 7/16 KawasanPerindustrianNilai 7, Inland Port, 71800, Negeri Sembilan, MY
4 Department of Chemical Engineering and Process, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, UniversitiKebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, MY
5 Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Islamic Science University of Malaysia, 13th Floor, Tower B, Persiaran MPAJ, JalanPandanUtama, Pandan Indah55100 Kuala Lumpur, MY
6 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM 43400 Serdang, Selangor, MY

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Molybdenum, phenol and diesel are toxic to organism, and are part of global pollution. Their removal using microorganisms with multiple detoxification ability is being intensely sought as a cleaner and economic approach. Methods/Statistical analysis: A soil suspension was spread plated on a minimal salts media supplemented with molybdenum. Blue colonies, indicating molybdenum reduction was then screened for phenol and diesel degradation capabilities. Findings: A molybdenum-reducing bacterium locally isolated showed the ability to grow on phenol and diesel. The bacterium required pHs of between 5.8 and 6.3 and temperatures of between 30 and 40oC for optimal reduction. Among the carbon sources tested for supporting reduction, glucose was the best. A critical concentration of phosphate at just 5 mM was required, while molybdenum (sodium molybdate) was required between 15 and 25 mM. The absorption spectrum of the Mo-blue produced showed a characteristic maximum peak at 865 nm. The reduction of molybdenum was inhibited by the ions mercury, copper, chromium, lead and silver by 78.9, 78.4, 77.4, 53.5 and 36.8%, respectively. Analysis using phylogenetic analysis identifies the bacterium as Enterobacteriaceae bacterium strain DRY7. Growth on phenol and diesel as carbon sources showed that the optimal concentrations supporting growth was between 300 and 400 mg/L and between 300 and 500 mg/L, respectively. Application/Improvements: The capacity of this bacterium to detoxify a number of toxicants is an important property or bioremediation of soils contaminated with multiple toxicants.

Keywords

Bioremediation, Detoxification, Diesel, Enterobacteriaceae, Molybdenum, Phenol

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