Simultaneous degradation of 3-chlorobenzoate and phenolic compounds by a defined mixed culture of Pseudomonas spp

A mixed culture of a chlorobenzoate-(3-CBA)-degrading Pseudomonas aeruginosa, strain 3mT, and a phenol/cresols-degrading Pseudomonas sp., strain CP4, simultaneously and efficiently degraded mixtures of 3-CBA and phenol/cresols. However, strains 3mT and CP4 used ortho- and meta-ring cleavage pathways, respectively. Degradation of 3-CBA was complete when the 3-CBA was equal in amount to or less than that of phenol. CP4/3mT inoculum ratios (w/w) of 1:1 or 1:2 gave the most effective degradation of both the substrates in the mixture. The mixed culture degraded equimolar mixtures of 3-CBA/phenol up to 10 mM. Equimolar mixtures of 3-CBA and o-, m- or p-cresol were also degraded by the mixed culture.