M. Knippschild et Hj. Rehm, DEGRADATION OF 2-CHLOROETHANOL BY FREE AND IMMOBILIZED PSEUDOMONAS-PUTIDA US-2, Applied microbiology and biotechnology, 44(1-2), 1995, pp. 253-258
The degradation of 2-chloroethanol by Pseudomonas putida US 2 was inve
stigated in shaking flasks, air-bubble columns and packed-bed fermente
rs by free cells, calcium-alginate-entrapped cells and on cells on gra
nular clay adsorbed. Entrapped cells tolerated increasing concentratio
ns of 2-chloroethanol better than free cells. Their maximum degradativ
e activity could be observed at 34 degrees C and pH 7.0. The degradati
on of 2-chloroethanol leads to a decrease of pH and to a stagnation of
mineralization, particularly with free or entrapped cells. Following
the stabilization of pH, supplementation with succinate resulted in a
complete degradation of higher 2-chloroethanol concentrations. Less 2-
chloroethanol was degraded in air-bubble columns and larger amounts in
packed-bed fermenters. 2-Chloroethanol was mineralized faster by free
or entrapped P. putida US 2 than by adsorbed cells, which, on the oth
er hand, were able to remove higher concentrations of the compound. Th
e results with P. putida US 2 are a good indication that this microorg
anism could be used in waste-water treatment and soil-decontamination
systems.