Biodegradation of nonyl-phenol-polyethoxylates among the yeast Candida sp.

Nonyl-phenol-polyethoxylates (NPEOs) and their primary degradation products are known to exert estrogenic effects on aquatic organisms. Toxic effects of this class of compounds are widely studied and many microorganisms, able to degrade these non-ionic surfactants, have been isolated. Among yeasts, Candida aquaetextoris, a strain isolate from textile industry effluents in Prato (Tuscany, Italy), results of great interest within the biodegradation of nonyl-phenols (NPs) due to its ability to use pNP as only carbon and energy source. The aim of this study was to compare the biodegradation capability of C. aquaetextoris towards NPEOs with a possible identical potentiality among related species of Candida sp., for a better characterization of the microbial isolate of reference.