Phenanthrene is classified as a priority environmental pollutant because of its impact on the environment and on human health as a mutagenic and carcinogenic agent. The aim of this study was isolated and identified new bacteria with the capability to degrade phenanthrene from Reynosa, Mexico. Achromobacter insolitus, Bacillus cereus, and Microbacterium thalassium had high tolerant to phenanthrene (250 mg L-1). Biodegradation experiments in liquid culture evidenced that Bacillus cereus strain Sneb1168 degraded 48.58% of phenanthrene at 500 mg L-1 after 32 days. Remarkably, in the soil system, B. cereus degraded 72.9% of phenanthrene at 250 mg kg-1 dw. These results highlight the potential of B. cereus strain Sneb1168 to be used as an agent for the remotion of phenanthrene from contaminated soils.
Keywords: Bacillus; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; soil bioremediation model.