Investigating the biological degradation of elemental phosphorus

The growth of microorganisms of various taxonomic groups (fungi, streptomyces and bacteria) was observed for the first time in culture media containing elemental (white and red) phosphorus as the source of phosphorus. This is the first known example of the incorporation of elemental phosphorus into the biospheric circulation of the phosphorus. The highest concentration applied in this study exceeds the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) of white phosphorus in wastewater by 5000 times, and in drinking water by up to 100000000 times! The growth selection of cultures resistant was carried out for the first time. We identified the microorganisms, growing on white phosphorus, as new strains of Aspergillus niger and Streptomyces sampsonii. The number A. niger AM1 and S. sampsonii A8 were assigned to them, respectively. Strains of the A. niger isolates were shown to better adapt to toxicant than the bacteria.