Factors influencing 4-fluorobenzoate degradation in biofilm cultures of Pseudomonas knackmussii B13

Membrane aerated biofilm reactors (MABRs) have potential in wastewater treatment as they permit simultaneous COD minimisation, nitrification and denitrification. Here we report on the application of the MABR to the removal of fluorinated xenobiotics from wastewater, employing a Pseudomonas knackmussii monoculture to degrade the model compound 4-fluorobenzoate. Growth of biofilm in the MABR using the fluorinated compound as the sole carbon source occurred in two distinct phases, with early rapid growth (up to 0.007 h−1) followed by ten-fold slower growth after 200 h operation. Furthermore, the specific 4-fluorobenzoate degradation rate decreased from 1.2 g g−1 h−1 to 0.2 g g−1 h−1, indicating a diminishing effectiveness of the biofilm as thickness increased. In planktonic cultures stoichiometric conversion of substrate to the fluoride ion was observed, however in the MABR, approximately 85% of the fluorine added was recovered as fluoride, suggesting accumulation of ‘fluorine’ in the biofilm might account for the decreasing efficiency. This was investigated by culturing the bacterium in a tubular biofilm reactor (TBR), revealing that there was significant fluoride accumulation within the biofilm (0.25 M), which might be responsible for inhibition of 4-fluorobenzoate degradation. This contention was supported by the observation of the inhibition of biofilm accumulation on glass cover slips in the presence of 40 mM fluoride. These experiments highlight the importance of fluoride ion accumulation on biofilm performance when applied to organofluorine remediation.

► The biodegradation of 4-fluorobenzoate was studied in a membrane-aerated biofilm reactor.
► The specific utilisation of the substrate decreased with increasing biofilm thickness.
► High concentrations of free fluoride were found to be retained within the biofilm.
► The fluoride ion was detrimental to planktonic growth and biofilm development.