Chemical Safety Science, 2017, Volume 1, No 1, p. 177 — 192

 

Utilization and biodegradation of wastes

 

UDC 579.695; 546.85; 502.55; 661.63                                             Download PDF (RUS)

DOI: 10.25514/CHS.2017.1.11443

 

ANAEROBIC DETOXICATION OF WHITE PHOSPHORUS BY MICROORGANISMS IN SEWAGE SEDIMENTS

 A. Z. Mindubaev¹*, A. D. Voloshina¹, N. V. Kulik¹, K. A. Saparmyradov², Kh. R. Khayarov², S. T. Minzanova¹, L. G. Mironova¹, and D. G. Yakhvarov¹

¹State Budgetary-Funded Institution of Science Arbuzov Institute of Organic and Physical Chemistry of Kazan Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kazan’, Russia

²Kazan (Volga region) Federal University, Kazan’, Russia

Received March 15, 2017

Published June 26, 2017

Abstract – The results of studying biodegradation of a hazardous toxicant – white phosphorus are presented, after the latter has been introduced into sewage sludge samples obtained from wastewater treatment facilities, at a concentration level ranging from 0.001 to 0.1%. It is shown that, under anaerobic conditions, white phosphorus is oxidized yielding non-toxic water-soluble compounds. Cultures of actinomycetes grown at a white phosphorus concentration of up to 0.1% have been obtained. The rate of P₄ concentration decrease in wastewater sediments is inversely proportional to the duration of the microflora lag-growth phase. A hypothetical metabolic pathway of white phosphorus is discussed.

Keywords: detoxication, white phosphorus, sewage sludge, anaerobic conditions, gas evolution kinetics, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, metabolic pathway, nuclear magnetic resonance.