Mineralisation of phenol and its derivatives by Pseudomonas sp. strain CP4.

A Pseudomonas sp. strain, CP4, was isolated that used phenol up to 1.5 g/l as sole source of carbon and energy.
Optimal growth on 1.5 g phenol/l was at pH 6.5 to 7.0 and 30°C. Unadapted cells needed 72 h to decrease the
chemical oxygen demand (COD) of about 2000 mg/l (from 1 g phenol/l) to about 200 mg/l. Adapted cells, pregrown
on phenol, required only 65 h to decrease the COD level to below 100 mg/l. Adaptation of cells to phenol
also improved the degradation of cresols. Cell-free extracts of strain CP4 grown on phenol or o-, m- or p-cresol
had sp. act. of 0.82, 0.35, 0.54 and 0.32 units of catechol t,d-dioxygenase and 0.06, 0.05, 0.05 and 0.03 units of
catechol l,&dioxygenase, respectively. Cells grown on glucose or succinate had neither activity. Benzoate and all
isomers of cresol, creosote, hydroxybenzoates, catechol and methyl catechol were utilized by strain CP4. No
chloroaromatic was degraded, either as sole substrate or as co-substrate.