Date of Publication

2007

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Chemical Engineering

Subject Categories

Chemical Engineering

College

Gokongwei College of Engineering

Department/Unit

Chemical Engineering

Thesis Adviser

Florinda T. Bacani
Susan A. Roces

Defense Panel Chair

Joseph Auresenia

Defense Panel Member

Marylou Uy
Josephine Borja

Abstract/Summary

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is listed as a priority toxic pollutant because of its high toxicity and low biodegradability in soil matrix. PCP biodegradation in soil is slow due to insufficient number of PCP degrader and inhibition by toxic concentration of PCP. Inoculation with PCP degraders (i.e. bioaugmentation) may, in some cases, be the only way for microbial clean-up of soil contaminated sites (Miethling and Karlson, 1996). The first phase of this study involved the acclimation of PCP as this process allowed microbes to adapt with the new substrate PCP by increasing the PCP concentration stepwise. PCP degrader was then isolated and identified. Moreover, physiological characteristics of this PCP degrader were also investigated. The second phase concerned with bioremediation of PCP in soil with different treatments including bioaugmentation, natural attenuation and control. The soil pH, conductivity, temperature, moisture content, microbial growth, CO2 evolution, PCP and chloride concentration were then investigated. Results showed that the isolated PCP degrader derived from PCP acclimated sludge was Pseudomonas putida. It was characterized as round gramnegative bacteria, non-sporulating rod, 1.25-1.5μm length and 0.4-0.5μm width with growth rate and specific growth rate calculated to be 0.0204 min-1 and 0.1416 h-1, respectively. The ability of P. putida was tested in a batch culture with PCP as sole carbon source and energy and test results showed that P. putida can degrade different PCP concentrations. Bioaugmentation had a faster degradation time of 10 days compared to that of 15 days using natural attenuation method. The chloride concentrations were observed to be 11.36ppm and 10.1ppm, respectively. This study concluded that it is possible to isolate PCP degrader from PCP acclimated sludge. The inoculation of PCP degrader has the potential for microbial clean-up of soil contaminated sites.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Accession Number

CDTG004231

Shelf Location

Archives, The Learning Commons, 12F Henry Sy Sr. Hall

Physical Description

viii, 152 leaves ; 28 cm.

Keywords

Bioremediation; Pentachlorophenol; Pentachlorophenol—Toxicology

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