• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.157-161
• /
• 2007

This study is to investigate the biological degradation and the characteristics of MEA, a pH regulator to be put in the cooling water circulation system for power plants, loading to elevate concentrations of COD and N when eluted into the water environment. MEA, $NH_4^+$ and CODcr were monitored in flask cultures and in a batch aerator. MEA was found to be biologically degradable, producing substantial amount of ammonia (max. 78.1%) in a form of $NH_4^+$ and other carboneous intermediates. The degradation reaction rates were similar one another over all MEA concentrations tested as the activated sludge (microbial consortium) was acclimated to MEA with the gradual and stepwise increase in MEA input into the batch aerator. Also, MLVSS kept increasing with increasing MEA input. The COD-based degradation reaction order was determined to be 1.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.560-570
• /
• 2007

The effective and accurate assessment of the total microbial community diversity is one of the primary challenges in modem microbial ecology, especially for the detection and characterization of unculturable populations and populations with a low abundance. Accordingly, this study was undertaken to investigate the diversity of the microbial community during the biodegradation of cis- and trans-dichloroethenes in soil and wastewater enrichment cultures. Community profiling using PCR targeting the l6S rRNA gene and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) revealed an alteration in the bacterial community profiles with time. Exposure to cis- and trans-dichloroethenes led to the disappearance of certain genospecies that were initially observed in the untreated samples. A cluster analysis of the bacterial DGGE community profiles at various sampling times during the degradation process indicated that the community profile became stable after day 10 of the enrichment. DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of selected DGGE bands revealed that the genera Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Comamonas, and Arthrobacter, plus several other important uncultured bacterial phylotypes, dominated the enrichment cultures. Thus, the identified dominant phylotypes may play an important role in the degradation of cis- and trans-dichloroethenes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.126-132
• /
• 2012

A cellulose-degrading composite microbial system containing a mixture of microbes was previously shown to demonstrate a high straw-degrading capacity. To estimate its potential utilization as an inoculant to accelerate straw biodegradation after returning straw to the field, two cellulose-degrading composite microbial systems named ADS3 and WSD5 were inoculated into wheat straw-amended soil in the laboratory. The microbial survival of the inoculant was confirmed by a denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis, whereas the enhancement of straw degradation in soil was assessed by measuring the mineralization of the soil organic matter and the soil cellulase activity. The results indicated that most of the DGGE bands from ADS3 were detected after inoculation into straw-amended autoclaved soil, yet only certain bands from ADS3 and WSD5 were detected after inoculation into straw-amended non-autoclaved soil during five weeks of incubation; some bands were detected during the first two weeks after inoculation, and then disappeared in later stages. Organic matter mineralization was significantly higher in the soil inoculants ADS3 and WSD5 than in the uninoculated controls during the first week, yet the enhanced degradation did not persist during the subsequent incubation. Similar to the increase in soil organic matter, the cellulase activity also increased during the first week in the ADS3 and WSD5 treatments, yet decreased during the remainder of the incubation period. Thus, it was concluded that, although the survival and performance of the two inoculants did not persist in the soil, a significant enhancement of degradation was present during the early stage of incubation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.448-456
• /
• 2012

Thirty-seven carbofuran-degrading bacteria were isolated from agricultural soils, and their genetic and phenotypic characteristics were investigated. The isolates were able to utilize carbofuran as a sole source of carbon and energy. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the isolates were related to members of the genera Rhodococcus, Sphingomonas, and Sphingobium, including new types of carbofuran-degrading bacteria, Bosea and Microbacterium. Among the 37 isolates, 15 different chromosomal DNA patterns were obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP) sequences. Five of the 15 representative isolates were able to degrade carbofuran phenol, fenoxycarb, and carbaryl, in addition to carbofuran. Ten of the 15 representative isolates had 1 to 8 plasmids. Among the 10 plasmid-containing isolates, plasmid-cured strains were obtained from 5 strains. The cured strains could not degrade carbofuran and other pesticides anymore, suggesting that the carbofuran degradative genes were on the plasmid DNAs in these strains. When analyzed with PCR amplification and dot-blot hybridization using the primers targeting for the previously reported carbofuran hydrolase gene (mcd), all of the isolates did not show any positive signals, suggesting that their carbofuran hydrolase genes had no significant sequence homology with the mcd gene.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.92-99
• /
• 2012

The optimal physical factors affecting enzyme production in an airlift fermenter have not been studied so far. Therefore, the physical parameters such as aeration rate, pH, and temperature affecting PLA-degrading enzyme production by Actinomadura keratinilytica strain T16-1 in a 3 l airlift fermenter were investigated. The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize PLA-degrading enzyme production by implementing the central composite design. The optimal conditions for higher production of PLA-degrading enzyme were aeration rate of 0.43 vvm, pH of 6.85, and temperature at $46^{\circ}C$. Under these conditions, the model predicted a PLA-degrading activity of 254 U/ml. Verification of the optimization showed that PLA-degrading enzyme production of 257 U/ml was observed after 3 days cultivation under the optimal conditions in a 3 l airlift fermenter. The production under the optimized condition in the airlift fermenter was higher than un-optimized condition by 1.7 folds and 12 folds with un-optimized medium or condition in shake flasks. This is the first report on the optimization of environmental conditions for improvement of PLA-degrading enzyme production in a 3 l airlift fermenter by using a statistical analysis method. Moreover, the crude PLA-degrading enzyme could be adsorbed to the substrate and degraded PLA powder to produce lactic acid as degradation products. Therefore, this incident indicates that PLA-degrading enzyme produced by Actinomadura keratinilytica NBRC 104111 strain T16-1 has a potential to degrade PLA to lactic acid as a monomer and can be used for the recycle of PLA polymer.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.19 no.11
• /
• pp.1439-1446
• /
• 2009

Isocarbophos is a widely used organophosphorus insecticide that has caused environmental pollution in many areas. However, degradation of isocarbophos by pure cultures has not been extensively studied, and the degradation pathway has not been determined. In this paper, a highly effective isocarbophos-degrading strain, scl-2, was isolated from isocarbophos-polluted soil. The strain scl-2 was preliminarily identified as Arthrobacter sp. based on its morphological, physiological, and biochemical properties, as well as 16S rDNA analysis. The strain scl-2 could utilize isocarbophos as its sole source of carbon and phosphorus for growth. One hundred mg/l isocarbophos could be degraded to a non detectable level in 18 h by scl-2 in cell culture, and isofenphos-methyl, profenofos, and phosmet could also be degraded. During the degradation of isocarbophos, the metabolites isopropyl salicylate, salicylate, and gentisate were detected and identified based on MS/MS analysis and their retention times in HPLC. Transformation of gentisate to pyruvate and fumarate via maleylpyruvate and fumarylpyruvate was detected by assaying for the activities of gentisate 1,2-dioxygenase (GDO) and maleylpyruvate isomerase. Therefore, we have identified the degradation pathway of isocarbophos in Arthrobacter sp. scl-2 for the first time. This study highlights an important potential use of the strain scl-2 for the cleanup of environmental contamination by isocarbophos and presents a mechanism of isocarbophos metabolism.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.338-347
• /
• 2017

The purpose of this study is to investigation of the decomposition characteristics in a pilot-scale burial site of livestock in three kinds of typical soils in Korea: sandy loam soil, clay loam soil, and sandy soil. In this study, we confirmed that most of the animals in the condition were decomposed within three years as mentioned in the "Livestock burial regional environmental research guidelines." We also determined that the decomposition rate of dead cows was higher than that of dead pigs, and that the biodegradation rate depends on the soil types in the following order: sandy soil > clay loam soil > sandy loam soil. The various external environment factors, such as temperature, moisture, pH, earthiness, nutrient, and the burial depth, should be managed properly for appropriate decomposition of dead animals.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.53 no.6
• /
• pp.549-561
• /
• 2011

Livestock wastewater is being discharged without treatment from Hasen's pig farm cluster in WangGoong (WG) area into the Iksan Stream, eventually flowing into the ManGyung (MG) at the upstream junction. Although it is well known that before discharge, wastewater must satisfy the pig slurry discharge standards; because of ongoing remodeling, proper treatment is not being performed. According to public records, wastewater from the WG pig farm cluster is responsible for 3.6% of MG River pollution and 2.0% of the SaeManGuem (SMG) Reservoir pollution. As a result, upstream water treatment quality has become primary concern for development of the SMG project. All physicochemical constituents and pathogenic microbes, such as chemical oxygen demand ($COD_{Cr}$), biochemical oxygen demand ($BOD_5$), total suspended solids (TSS), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorous (TP), fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli and Salmonella at the effluent of WG Plant (S-1) exceed the effluent standards. This is mainly due to insufficient wastewater treatment: the WG Plant is under renovation to increase water purification efficiency. By comparing the water quality at the S-7 junction, where the the Iksan Stream (pig farms) and the Wanggoong Stream (no pig farms) merge, it is clear that farming facilities and improper treatment can critically affect surrounding water quality. While it is clear throughout this study that the level of all physicochemical parameters and pathogenic microbes along the Stream decreased due to sedimentation, biodegradation and/or dilution. An alarming problem was discovered: the existence of pathogenic microbe count(E coli, Salmonella) in the lagoon wastewater and the stream water. Not only were high concentrations of these pathogens themselves found, but the potential existence of more serious pathogens could rise to more dangerous conditions.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.83-90
• /
• 2008

The ultrasonic pre-treatment of sewage sludge (SS) was investigated to increase soluble organic material and to improve anaerobic biodegradability. Ultrasonic disintegration of SS increased the amount of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD), protein and carbohydrate concentrations whereas particle size decreased due to the break-up of cell walls. In terms of anaerobic biodegradability, ultrasonic pre-treatment enhanced the anaerobic biodegradation of SS, leading to the methane gas production improvement. Biochemical methane potential (BMP) of SS was 211.3 ml $CH_4/gVS$ whereas BMP after ultrasonic pre-treatment was 294.3 ml $CH_4/gVS$. The improvement in BMP for SS treated with ultrasonic disintegration was as high as 40 %. This result indicated that disintegration of SS was efficient for enhancing anaerobic biodegradability.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.226-231
• /
• 2006

Several white-rot fungi are able to produce extracellular lignin-degrading enzymes such as manganese peroxidase (MnP), lignin peroxidase (LiP), and laccase. In order to enhance the production of laccase and MnP using Trametes versicolor KCTC 16781 in suspension culture, the effects of major medium ingredients, such as carbon and nitrogen sources, on the production of the enzymes were investigated. The decolorization mechanism in terms of biodegradation and biosorption was also investigated. Among the carbon sources used, glucose showed the highest potential for the production of laccase and MnP. Ammonium tartrate was a good nitrogen source for the enzyme production. No significant difference in the laccase production was observed, when glucose concentration was varied between 5 g/l and 30 g/l. As the concentration of nitrogen source increased, a lower MnP activity was observed. The optimal C/N ratio was 25 for the production of laccase and MnP. When the concentrations of glucose and ammonium tartrate were simultaneously increased, the laccase and MnP activities increased dramatically. The maximum laccase and MnP activities were 33.7 U/ml at 72 h and 475 U/ml at 96 h, respectively, in the optimal condition. In this condition, over 90% decolorization efficiency was observed.