Bacteria that degrade p-chlorophenol isolated from a continuous culture system.

Two Gram-positive coryneform bacteria that degraded p-chlorophenol isolated from a continuous culture system are characterized. Isolate B (probably and Arthrobacter sp.) completely removed the p-chlorophenol from a medium with a concomitant increase in cell density within 16 h. Isolate F similarly removed the p-chlorophenol within 28 h but without an increase in cell density. Isolates B and F also removed the p-chlorophenol from a medium with p-chlorophenol as the sole carbon source within 32 and 48 h, respectively. The optimal temperature for p-chlorophenol degradation by both organisms was 25 to 30 degrees C. The optimal pH range for p-chlorophenol degradation was pH 7-9 for isolate B and pH 8-9 for isolate F. Since these native environmental bacteria can degrade p-chlorophenol, they may have an important application in waste water treatment processes.