Degradation of the endocrine – disrupting dimethyl phthalate and dimethyl isophthalate by mangrove microorganisms

Degradation of ortho-dimethyl phthalate (o-DMP) and dimethyl isophthalate (DMI) was investigated using microorganisms isolated from mangrove sediment in Hong Kong. One enrichment culture was capable of utilizing o-DMP as the sole source of carbon and energy, but none of the bacteria in the enrichment culture was capable of degrading o-DMP alone. In co-culture of two bacteria, degradation was observed and one bacterium in the culture was a new species unkown before. Biochemical utilization profile of this bacterium is limited to malate, acetate and phenyl acetate only. Complete degradation of o-DMP took place in less than 4 days at https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"> 400 m g / L . Degradation…