Bioremediation of chlorophenol containing simulated ground water by immobilized bacteria

Chlorophenol-mineralizing rhodococci were immobilized on a polyurethane carrier. A column with polyurethane immobilized biomass was fed with technical chlorophenol (3–130 mg I −1) contaminated water. The chlorophenol concentration of the column effluent was 1/1000-1/10,000 of the influent concentration. Inorganic chloride in effluent water and carbon dioxide in exhaust gas were found as products. The polymer immobilized biomass adsorbed chlorophenols effectively both at room temperature and at the local ground water temperature (+4°C). The temperature was intermittently increased to 25°C to allow the immobilized bacteria to biodegrade the adsorbed chlorophenols. Life-time of the immobilized rhodococci was several months. The degradation of chlorophenols by the immobilized cells proceeded in the absence of an additional carbon scource. The method described can be applied to remove chlorophenols from ground water.