Low-temperature biodegradation of aniline by freely suspended and magnetic modified Pseudomonas migulae AN-1.

Aniline is of great environmental concern with regards to widespread occurrence in water and soil and increasing threat into the life forms. Bioremediation involving the use of degrading bacterium in the removal of aniline is the most promising process, yet inhibited under low temperature usually. In the present study, a new psychrotrophic bacterial strain isolated from groundwater, designated AN-1, was shown to be capable of aniline degradation in a concentration range of 135-2202 mg L(-1) within 72 h at 10 °C. Strain AN-1 was proposed to be a Pseudomonas migulae group of bacteria based on the evolutionary relationship and the morphological and biochemical characteristics. The pH, NaH2PO4, and aniline concentration were used as independent variables to optimize the aniline removal by AN-1 at 10 °C, and a statistically significant (R (2) = 0.9230, p < 0.005) quadratic polynomial mathematical model was suggested. Moreover, an efficient biocomposite by assembling Fe3O4 nanoparticles onto the surface of AN-1 cells was constructed. Compared with free cells, the microbial cell/Fe3O4 biocomposite had the same biodegradation activity but exhibited remarkable reusability. This study highlights AN-1 might be a promising candidate for aniline removal from wastewater at low temperatures.