DEGRADATION OF ANTHRACENE BY STREPTOMYCES SPP.STRAIN AH4FATMA ZOHRA FERRADJI, ABDELMALEK. BADIS, SOUMAI REBBAINI AND SAMI MNIFAbstract Streptomyces strains AH4 performance degrading humic acid was isolated and selected from surface soils at Mitidja plain (North of Algeria) was used to biodegrade anthracene in cultured medium. Streptomyces spp strain AH4 was identified using 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis. Optimal conditions for the biodegradation of anthracene included: temperature of 30 °C, pH 7.2 and 50 ppm concentration of anthracene. Under these conditions and initial anthracene concentration of 50 mg.l-1, more than 70% was removed within 5 days. The metabolites anthracene formations were examined by HPLC and FTIR. Appearance of new pic at tR= 3.75 min by HPLC. FTIR, appearance of new broad absorption bands at 2858 Cm-1, 2927 Cm-1, 2955 Cm-1 and another new strong absorption band at 1734 Cm-1 in metabolites demonstrates that carboxyl group produced during anthracene degradation |