Acidovorax PSJ13, a novel, efficient polyacrylamide-degrading bacterium by cleaving the main carbon chain skeleton without the production of acrylamide.

Given the environmental challenge caused by the wide use of polyacrylamide (PAM), an environmental-friendly treatment method is required. This study demonstrates the role of Acidovorax sp. strain PSJ13 isolated from dewatered sludge in efficiently degrading PAM. To be specific, the strain PSJ13 can degrade 51.67% of PAM in 96 h (2.39 mg/(L h)) at 35 °C, pH 7.5 and 5% inoculation amount. Besides, scanning electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography were employed to analyze samples, and the nitrogen present in the degradation products was investigated. The results showed that the degradation of PAM by PSJ13 started from the side chain and then mainly the -C-C- main chain, which produced no acrylamide monomers. As the first study to report the role of Acidovorax in efficiently degrading PAM, this work may provide a solution for industries that require PAM management.