DEGRADATIVE CAPABILITY OF PSEUDOMONAS-PUTIDA ON ACETONITRILE

Pseudomonas putida, capable of utilizing acetonitrile as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen, was isolated from contaminated soil and water samples collected from industrial sites. The P. putida cells were imm obilized in calcium alginate beads. The degradation of acetonitrile by the immobilized cells of P. putida was investigated. The immobilized cells degraded different concentrations of acetonitrile into ammonia a nd carbon dioxide. The effect of aeration on the degradation rate was also studied. Oxygen limitation was suggested in the alginate-immobili zed system. The rate of degradation of acetonitrile increased with inc rease in the rate of aeration.