https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Index en-au 5 https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:30370 Bacillus and Pseudomonas, respectively. These strains completely degraded the model 3-(phenanthrene), 4-(pyrene) and 5-(benzo-a-pyrene) ring PAHs at 6, 7 and 40–50 days, correspondingly. They were shown to be able to produce a rhamnolipid type of biosurfactant during PAH degradation. The biosurfactants produced from both the strains showed good pH (2–12) as well as thermal (up to 80 °C) stability and were able to tolerate up to 20 g L−1 salinity. The strains also had resistance towards heavy metals, attributed to the amount of biosurfactant produced. The Bacillus strain in particular showed excellent metal resistance; the minimum inhibitory concentrations were 5 (Cd2+, Cu2+) and 7 (Pb2+, Zn2+) mg L−1 of relatively bioavailable metal ions, but >15 mg L−1 metal concentrations were lethal to the microbe. Additionally, both strains possessed activity of more than one extracellular enzyme (cellulase, lipase and protease). The limiting factors in PAH biodegradation are low PAH bioavailability and microbial intolerance towards HMW PAHs and co-contaminants (heavy metals). The novel strains identified thus had (a) potential to biodegrade both LMW and HMW PAHs, (b) pH, thermal and saline-tolerant biosurfactant production that aids PAH solubility enhancement, and importantly, (c) heavy metal resistance. Both Bacillus and Pseudomonas strains are appropriate candidates in field-scale PAH bioremediation at mixed contamination sites and for several industrial applications due to their enzymatic activities.]]> Thu 17 Feb 2022 09:25:16 AEDT ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:27309 Mon 23 Sep 2019 14:19:56 AEST ]]>