Biodegradation of octylphenol polyethoxylate surfactant Triton X-100 by selected microorganisms

Octylphenol polyethoxylate (OPEO_n) surfactants are used in numerous commercial and industrial products. Large amounts of such surfactants and their various residual biodegradation by-products are ultimately released into the environment. OPEO_n biodegradation was performed in this study using pure cultures of Pseudomonas species and strains under different environmental conditions. Environmental factors including the pH, nitrogen sources, and growth kinetics of the cells were investigated. The intermediates of Triton X-100 biotransformation were detected by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrophotograph (HPLC-MS). We found the highest specific growth rate (μ) was 0.56 h^-1 and this was achieved by strain E with an initial concentration of Triton X-100 of 5000 mg L^-1. A pH level of 7 was most favorable for cell growth for all five strains. The highest specific growth rate was achieved using (NH₄)₂SO ₄ as the sole nitrogen source for strain E. Strain A showed an enhancement of growth when between 0.2 and 1.4 mg L^-1 of H ₂O₂ was added. Detection of intermediates was possible after four days of transformation and the octylphenol triethoxylate (OPEO ₃) peak was predominant, while the high molecular weight peaks had all disappeared. The kinetic analysis demonstrated that the greatest maximum specific growth rate (μ_max) and the greatest saturation constant (K_s) of 0.83 h^-1 and 5.24 mg L^-1, respectively, were obtained for strain E in 5000 mg L^-1 Triton X-100. The higher K_i revealed that strain A was resistant to higher Triton X-100 concentrations.