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Transformation of nitroaromatic compounds by a methanogenic bacterium, Methanococcus sp. (strain B)

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Abstract

The transformation of several nitroaromatic compounds by a newly isolated methanogenic bacterium, Methanococcus sp. (strain B) was studied. The presence of nitroaromatic compounds (0.5 mM) viz., nitrobenzene, 2,4-dinitrobenzene, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene, 2,4-dinitrophenol, 2,4-dinitrobenzene, and 2,6-dinitrotoluene in the culture medium did not inhibit growth of the isolate. The bacteria grew rapidly and reached stationary phase within seven days of incubation. All the nitroaromatic compounds tested were 80 to 100% transformed by the bacterium to amino compounds by a reduction process. The isolate did not use the nitroaromatic compounds as the sole source of carbon or nitrogen. The transformation of nitroaromatic compounds by this isolate was compared to that of other methanogenic bacteria. Out of five methanogens studied, only Methanococcus deltae and Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus could transform the nitroaromatic compounds; however, the transformation rates were significantly less than that of the new isolate Methanococcus sp. (strain B). The nitroaromatic compounds were not transformed by Methanosarcina barkeri, Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, and Methanobrevibacter ruminantium.

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Abbreviations

NB :

Nitrobenzene

DNB :

2,4-Dinitrobenzene

TNB :

2,4,6-Trinitrobenzene

DNP :

2,4-Dinitrophenol

2,4-DNT :

2,4-Dinitrotoluene

2,6-DNT :

2,6-Dinitrotoluene

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  1. Environmental Research Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Building 203, 60439, Argonne, IL, USA

    Ramaraj Boopathy

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  1. Ramaraj Boopathy
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Boopathy, R. Transformation of nitroaromatic compounds by a methanogenic bacterium, Methanococcus sp. (strain B). Arch Microbiol 162, 167–172 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00314470

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00314470

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