RTRI REPORT October 2001
PAPERS

Degradation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) by a Thermophilic Bacterium

Takashi KYOTANI, Minoru SHIMURA
Gouri MUKERJEE-DHAR, Kazuhide KIMBARA


  We have developed a system to degrade of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) using ultraviolet irradiation for dechlorination followed by biodegradation. The biological treatment uses the enzymatic activity to metabolize toxic chemicals without generating harmful by-products. However, the biological treatment takes a long time and the contamination by other microorganism affects the degradation efficiency seriously. In this study, we isolated a new strain, Bacillus sp.JF2B, which can grow at a high rate at 60°C and utilizes biphenyl, 4-chlorobiphenyl and benzoic acid as carbon sources. This strain can be used in our degradation system as being a thermophilic bacterium and the possibility of contamination is low. Therefore, we save the operation time and cost necessary for the treatment. Strain JF2B degrades lower chlorinated biphenyl congeners by the metabolic pathway known as PCB degrading bacteria, and can grow in a large scale fermenter equipped with a system to supply gaseous biphenyl.


* Full papers of RTRI Report are written in Japanese.

Copyright (c) 2001 Railway Technical Research Institute