Biodegradation of methyl tert-butyl ether by a bacterial pure culture

A bacterial strain, PM1, which is able to utilize methyl tert-butyl ether ( MTBE) as its sole carbon and energy source, was isolated from a mixed micro bial consortium in a compost biofilter capable of degrading MTBE, Initial l inear rates of MTBE degradation by 2 x 10(6) cells ml(-1) were 0.07, 1.17, and 3.56 mu g ml(-1) h(-1) for initial concentrations of 5, 50, and 500 mu g MTBE ml(-1), respectively. When incubated with 20 mu g of uniformly label ed [C-14]MTBE ml(-1), strain PM1 converted 46% to (CO2)-C-14 and 19% to C-1 4-labeled cells within 120 h. This yield is consistent with the measurement of protein accumulation at different MTBE concentrations from which was es timated a biomass yield of 0.18 mg of cells mg MTBE-1. Strain PM1 was inocu lated into sediment core material collected from a contaminated groundwater plume at Port Hueneme, California, in which there was no evidence of MTBE degradation. Strain PM1 readily degraded 20 mu g of MTBE ml(-1) added to th e core material. The rate of MTBE removal increased with additional inputs of 20 mu g of MTBE ml(-1). These results suggest that PM1 has potential for use in the remediation of MTBE-contaminated environments.