Co-metabolism of methyl- and chloro-substituted catechols by an Achromobacter sp. possessing a new meta-cleaving oxygenase.

Co-metabolism of 3-methylcatechol, 4-chlorocatechol and 3,5-dichlorocatechol by an Achromobacter sp. was shown to result in the accumulation of 2-hydroxy-3-methylmuconic semialdehyde, 4-chloro-2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde and 3,5-dichloro-2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde respectively. Formation of these products indicated that cleavage of the aromatic nucleus of the substituted catechols was accomplished by a new meta-cleaving enzyme, catechol 1,6-oxygenase.

Cometabolism of m-chlorobenzoate by an Arthrobacter.

Twenty isolates representing nine bacterial genera were obtained from enrichment cultures and were shown to cometabolize one or more of 22 substituted benzoates. One of the isolates, an Arthrobacter sp., cometabolized m-chlorobenzoate to a product identified as 4-chlorocatechol by thin-layer chromatography and ultraviolet and infrared spectroscopy.

Microbial Degradation of the Sulfonate of Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonate.

It has been observed that the sulfonate portion of alkyl benzene sulfonate (ABS) will undergo microbial attack in certain pure and mixed cultures if an energy source, such as glucose, is available. The evidence for this is provided by the stoichiometric relationship between the reduction of ABS concentration and the appearance of inorganic sulfur compounds.