Degradation of thiocyanate by immobilized cells of mixed and pure cultures

Thiocyanate is frequently found in industrial wastewater such as those from coal, gold and silver mining. Although the microbial degradation of thiocyanate has been well documented, scarce information is available on the heterotrophic degradation of thiocyanate. A pure bacteria strain (BMV8) and a mixed culture of bacteria and fungi were isolated by an enrichment method from a fixed bed bioreactor for cyanide and thiocyanate removal and they were able to metabolize thiocyanate heterotrophically as a nitrogen source. The efficiency of thiocyanate biodegradation decreased when the cells were immobilized in citric pectin. The immobilized mixed culture was able to degrade thiocyanate more efficiently than the BMV8 strain.