Removal of phenanthrene from soil by co-cultures of bacteria and fungi pregrown on sugarcane bagasse pith

Abstract Sixteen co-cultures composed of four bacteria and four fungi grown on sugarcane bagasse pith were tested for phenanthrene degradation in soil. The four bacteria were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginose , Ralstonia pickettii , Pseudomonas sp. and Pseudomonas cepacea. The four fungi were identified as: Penicillium sp., Trichoderma viride , Alternaria tenuis and Aspergillus terrus that were previously isolated from different hydrocarbon-contaminated soils. Fungi had a statistically significant positive (0.0001 p ) effect on phenanthrene removal, that ranged from 35% to 50% and bacteria removed the compound by an order of 20%. Co-cultures B. cepacea-Penicillium sp., R. pickettii-Penicillium sp., and P. aeruginose-Penicillium sp. exhibited synergism for phenanthrene removal, reaching 72.84 ± 3.85%, 73.61 ± 6.38% and 69.47 ± 4.91%; in 18 days, respectively.