Batch studies with Exiguobacterium aurantiacum degrading structurally diverse organic compounds and its potential for treatment of biomass gasification wastewater

► The culture could utilize a wide range of organic compounds as sole substrate. ► Phenol, heterocyclics, benzene, naphthalene were all utilized as sole substrate. ► Phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene could also be utilized as sole substrate. ► 92.4% COD removal could be achieved for a gasifier wastewater within 68 h. ► Ammoniacal-nitrogen up to 1000 mg/L had no adverse effect on performance.