Effects of nano bamboo charcoal on PAHs-degrading strain Sphingomonas sp. GY2B

• NBC could improve the phenanthrene removal efficiency by strain GY2B.
• Strain GY2B displayed a better growth at the beginning with low dose of NBC.
• NBC made a negligible contribution to the solubilization of phenanthrene.
• NBC could interact with cell membrane and enhance membrane permeability.
• NBC could embed into cell membrane and enter into cell of strain GY2B.

Nano bamboo charcoal (NBC) has been commonly used in the production of textiles, plastics, paint, etc. However, little is known regarding their effects towards the microorganisms. The effects of NBC on phenanthrene degrading strain Sphingomonas sp. GY2B were investigated in the present study. Results showed that the addition of NBC could improve the phenanthrene removal by Sphingomonas sp. GY2B, with removal efficiencies increased by 10.29–18.56% in comparison to the control at 24 h, and phenanthrene was almost completely removed at 48 h. With the presence of low dose of NBC (20 and 50 mg L−1), strain GY2B displayed a better growth at 6 h, suggesting that NBC was beneficial to the growth of GY2B and thus resulting in the quick removal of phenanthrene from water. However, the growth of strain GY2B in high dose of NBC (200 mg L−1) was inhibited at 6 h, and the inhibition could be attenuated and eliminated after 12 h. NBC-effected phenanthrene solubility experiment suggested that NBC makes a negligible contribution to the solubilization of phenanthrene in water. Results of electronic microscopy analysis (SEM and TEM) indicated NBC may interact with the cell membrane, causing the enhanced membrane permeability and then NBC adsorbed on the membrane would enter into the cells. The findings of this work would provide important information for the future usage and long-term environmental risk assessment of NBC.