Abstract
In order to fad the most fitted biodegradation model, biodegradation kinetics model to the initial phenol and p-cresot concentrations were investigated and had been fitted by the linear regression. Bacteria capable of degrading p-cresol were isolated from soil by enrichment culture technique. Among them, strain Ml capable of degradillg p.rcresol has also degraded phenal and was identified as the genus Micrococcus from the results from of taxonomical studies. The optimal tonditlons for the biodegradation of phenal and p-cresol by Micrococcus sp. Ml were $NH_4NO_3$ 0.05%, pH 7.0, 3$0^{\circ}C$, respectively, and medium volume 100m1/250m1 shaking flask. iwicrococcus sp. Ml was able to grow on phenal concentration up to 14mM and p-cresol concelltration up to 0.8mM. With increasing substrate concentraction, the lag period increased, but the maximum specific growth rates decreased. The yield coefficient decreased with increasing substrate concentation. The biodegradation kinetics of phenol and p-cresol were best described by Monod with growth model for every experimented concentration. In cultivation of mixed substrate, p-cresol was degraded first and phenol was second. This result implies that p-cresol and phenol was not degraded simultaneously.
