β-Cyclodextrin and its derivatives-enhanced solubility and biodegradation of 2-nitrobiphenyl

This paper investigated the effects of β-cyclodextrins (β-CD) and its two derivatives, hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) and carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin (CMCD), on the solubility and biodegradation of 2-nitrophenyl by an Acinetbacter sp. Results showed that β-CD, HPCD and CMCD could not be utilized by Acinetbacter sp. as sole carbon source and none of the CDs had toxic effects on the growth of the bacteria in the experiments; all the CDs could enhance the apparent solubility and accelerate the biodegradation of 2-nitrobipheny. It showed that biodegradation-accelerating effects of CDs on 2-nitrobiphenyl were correlated with their solubility-enhancing effects. Among three CDs investigated, CMCD had the most obvious effects both on the apparent solubility and the biodegradation, followed by β-CD and HPCD.