Bioremediation potential of Pseudomonas sp. isolated from a 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene contaminated site

Pseudomonas mosselii and Pseudomonas stutzeri isolated from TNT contaminated site were evaluated for their TNT degrading potential in aqueous phase. Free and immobilised cell cultures of P. mosselii and P. stutzeri were evaluated individually and in combination, by shake flask studies for degrading TNT in synthetic solutions and in actual waste waters respectively. All the flasks were incubated at temperature 37°C at 120 rpm for 48 hours in continuous mode. Biodegradation of TNT was monitored by carrying out qualitative and quantitative studies. Spectro-photometric measurements of the density of free suspended cells in the culture broth indicate the positive growth of the bacteria under toxic conditions of TNT contamination. The immobilised cells showed over all better performance as compared to free cells. The qualitative and quantitative analysis by HPLC revealed the 100% biodegradation of TNT to secondary metabolites of bacterial metabolism within 24 hours and 28 hours of incubation, by immobilised cel...