Rational for the Method of Biological Purification of Environments Contaminated with White Phosphorus

Author(s):  A.Z. Mindubaev, candidate of Sciences, associate Professor, Institution of Science A.E. Arbuzov Institute of Organic and Physical Chemistry of Kazan Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, Kazan, Russia, mindubaev@iopc.ru

E.V. Babynin, candidate of Sciences, associate Professor, Kazan (Volga region) federal university, Kazan, Russia, edward.b67@mail.ru

K.R. Khayarov, Kazan (Volga region) federal university, Kazan, Russia, ybadeev.61@mail.ru

E.K. Badeeva, candidate of Sciences, Institution of Science A.E. Arbuzov Institute of Organic and Physical Chemistry of Kazan Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, Kazan, Russia, khayarov.kh@gmail.com

S.T. Minzanova, candidate of Sciences, associate Professor, Institution of Science A.E. Arbuzov Institute of Organic and Physical Chemistry of Kazan Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, minzanova.salima@yandex.ru

L.G. Mironova, Institution of Science A.E. Arbuzov Institute of Organic and Physical Chemistry of Kazan Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, Kazan, Russia, mironoval1963@gmail.com

Ya.A. Akosah, Institution of Science A.E. Arbuzov Institute of Organic and Physical Chemistry of Kazan Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, Kazan, Russia, akosah2005@gmail.com

Issue:  Volume 43, № 1

Rubric:  Earth sciences

Annotation:  White phosphorus P4 is a first class hazardous material. However, the introduction of this this substance into the environment is undeniable, since white phosphorus is use in the industry and for military purposes. Consequently, the invention of efficient methods for detoxifying this substance is of great relevance. Our team was premier in observing the growth of microorganisms (fungi, streptomycetes and bacteria) in culture media containing white phosphorus as the sole source of phosphorus. In addition to survival, the absence of phosphorus starvation were likewise observe among microbes growing under such conditions. This is the first example of the introduction of white phosphorus into the natural cycle of the biogenic element phosphorus. The highest P4 concentration at which microbial growth is observed exceeds the TLV of P4 in wastewater by five thousand times, and in drinking water by a hundred million times! Following the discovery of white phosphorus metabolites, a pathway of its metabolism has been proposed. For the first time, an increase in the resistance of microbial cultures to this xenobiotic was observe. It has been shown that the resistance of microorganism cultures to white phosphorus depends on their taxonomic identity: strains of the fungi Aspergillus niger adapt to it better than bacteria. A strain of Aspergillus niger, with the highest resistance to excessive concentrations of the toxicant, was isolated. Hence, the possibility of creating and using a biological method for the removal of white phosphorus contaminants is justified.

Keywords:  biodegradation, white phosphorus, environmental protection, chemical pollution, chemical waste.

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