potential means to reduce the amounts of NSAIDs released into the environment is to
improve their biodegradation in a post-treatment step using microorganisms that
produce oxidative enzymes such as laccases [53, 54].
To analyze this method, four strains of the bacterial genus Streptomyces
(S. cyaneus, S. ipomoea, S. griseus, and S. psammoticus) and the white rot fungus
Trametes versicolor were studied, for their ability to produce extracellular active
laccase in wastewater biologically treated with different carbon sources [55].
The evaluation of the five organisms showed that T. versicolor was the most
promising strain. This fungus produced more than 20 times more laccase activity
than S. cyaneus, the best candidate of the Streptomyces strains evaluated, and this
especially in wastewater treated with forest wastes as the sole substrate, a cheap and
widely available product. Laccase of T. versicolor was also more active than that of
S. cyaneus at almost neutral pH and between 10 and 25
C, conditions generally
found in municipal wastewater [55].
13 Biological Technologies for the Elimination of Ibuprofen
13.1 Artificial Wetlands
Constructed wetlands are ecological and economical, they have also aroused a
growing interest in their application to treat pharmaceutical contaminants in wastewater [56, 57]. In a study evaluating the dynamics of ibuprofen degradation,
diversity, and bacterial uniformity, and the structure of the bacterial community in
a bed planted with Typha angustifolia [56], it was shown that plants promote
microbial degradation of ibuprofen, especially in the downstream areas of the
wetland [56].
In the area upstream of a third of the wetland, the presence of plants did not
significantly improve the degradation of ibuprofen, probably due to the much greater
contribution of the co-metabolic behaviors of certain microorganisms that do not
degrade the ibuprofen of plants [56].
When analyzing the bacterial characteristics, it was found that the aerobic species
of the Flavobacteriaceae family, the Methylococcaceae family, and the
Methylocystis genus and the anaerobic species of the Spirochaetaceae family and
the Clostridium genus were the most relevant bacteria for the ibuprofen co-metabolic
degradation. The Rhodocyclaceae family and the genus Ignavibacterium closely
related to plants appear to be associated with the metabolic degradation of
ibuprofen [56].
The family Rhodocyclaceae and the genus Ignavibacterium closely related to the
plants appeared to be associated with the metabolic degradation of ibuprofen [56].
312
N. Ramírez-Durán et al.
improve their biodegradation in a post-treatment step using microorganisms that
produce oxidative enzymes such as laccases [53, 54].
To analyze this method, four strains of the bacterial genus Streptomyces
(S. cyaneus, S. ipomoea, S. griseus, and S. psammoticus) and the white rot fungus
Trametes versicolor were studied, for their ability to produce extracellular active
laccase in wastewater biologically treated with different carbon sources [55].
The evaluation of the five organisms showed that T. versicolor was the most
promising strain. This fungus produced more than 20 times more laccase activity
than S. cyaneus, the best candidate of the Streptomyces strains evaluated, and this
especially in wastewater treated with forest wastes as the sole substrate, a cheap and
widely available product. Laccase of T. versicolor was also more active than that of
S. cyaneus at almost neutral pH and between 10 and 25
C, conditions generally
found in municipal wastewater [55].
13 Biological Technologies for the Elimination of Ibuprofen
13.1 Artificial Wetlands
Constructed wetlands are ecological and economical, they have also aroused a
growing interest in their application to treat pharmaceutical contaminants in wastewater [56, 57]. In a study evaluating the dynamics of ibuprofen degradation,
diversity, and bacterial uniformity, and the structure of the bacterial community in
a bed planted with Typha angustifolia [56], it was shown that plants promote
microbial degradation of ibuprofen, especially in the downstream areas of the
wetland [56].
In the area upstream of a third of the wetland, the presence of plants did not
significantly improve the degradation of ibuprofen, probably due to the much greater
contribution of the co-metabolic behaviors of certain microorganisms that do not
degrade the ibuprofen of plants [56].
When analyzing the bacterial characteristics, it was found that the aerobic species
of the Flavobacteriaceae family, the Methylococcaceae family, and the
Methylocystis genus and the anaerobic species of the Spirochaetaceae family and
the Clostridium genus were the most relevant bacteria for the ibuprofen co-metabolic
degradation. The Rhodocyclaceae family and the genus Ignavibacterium closely
related to plants appear to be associated with the metabolic degradation of
ibuprofen [56].
The family Rhodocyclaceae and the genus Ignavibacterium closely related to the
plants appeared to be associated with the metabolic degradation of ibuprofen [56].
312
N. Ramírez-Durán et al.