Incubation of activated sludge samples in MSM enriched with
500 mg phenol l−1 was followed by a significant increase in OD600
after 7–10 d. Following enrichment at 500 mg l−1, cultivation of
solid media and selection in liquid culture at increasing concentrations
of phenol resulted in the isolation of strain TW1. Colonies
of TW1 on phenol MSM agar plates were rough, non-pigmented,
opaque, and fluorescent, with sizes ranging from 1 to 3 mm in
diameter after 2–3 d incubation at 25 ◦C