Biodegradation of phenol in seawater using bacteria isolated from the intestinal contents of marine creatures

For the bioremediation of pollutants in seawater, the degradation of phenol using novel marine bacteria isolated from the intestinal contents of marine creatures was investigated. Twenty samples of marine creatures were collected, and bacteria in their intestinal contents were incubated in an artificial seawater agar medium containing phenol. Two colonies (EBR01 and EBR02) were observed from Dendrodoris fumata, and one colony (EBR04) was observed from Suggrundus meerdervoortii. Analysis of the bacterial properties, gene sequencing, similarities, and phylogenetic characteristics showed that strains EBR01 and EBR02 were Acinetobacter species and strain EBR04 was Cobetia marina. Acinetobacter spp. EBR01, EBR02, and C. marina EBR04 degraded almost 100 mg l−1 phenol in seawater. The maximum phenol degradation rate using Acinetobacter sp. EBR01 was the highest value, and it was 2.7-fold higher than that using activated sludge.