BPA degradation of encapsulated Pseudomonas Aeruginosa on scouring pad, viability and scanning electron microscope view

Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain NR. 22 isolated from a lake in Shah Alam, Malaysia was allowed to degrade BPA. The bacteria was known as laccase enzyme producer that is able to degrade BPA. This study was performed by cultivating the bacteria in medium containing low concentration of BPA which is 5 ppm to observe the BPA degradation ability of the bacteria. The bacteria was able to completely degrade 5 ppm of BPA in 24 hours of fermentation as seen from the result obtained from High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis. This study was also done to determine the viability of a low cost immobilization alternative in which the bacteria was attached to small pieces of scouring pads through 24 hours fermentation. The viability of the immobilization method was validated through the Scanning Microscope Electron view where the bacteria was seen attached on the surface of scouring pad fibers. The efficiency of the BPA degradation for the immobilized bacteria was also determined by adding the scouring pads attached with bacteria in shake flask fermentation for 24 hours. The result obtained from HPLC analysis shows that the immobilized bacteria was able to degrade BPA from 5 to 1.5 ppm. In conclusion, the study on BPA degradation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the viability of scouring pads as immobilization alternative and the efficiency of the degradation ability of immobilized bacteria has been successfully achieved.