Toxicity of organic extraction reagents to anaerobic bacteria
Thirty organic chemicals were examined by means of a small scale (60 mL) batch fermentation bioassay procedure for their toxicity to a commercial inoculum (Methanobac, W.B.E. Ltd.), which was a mixed culture of facultatively anaerobic, acid-producing bacteria. Gas production, pH change of medium, and the concentrations of ethanol, VFA, and lactic acid were measured after 75 h growth. The optimum experimental conditions for toxicity testing were alfalfa as substrate (2 g), a buffered nutrient medium (pH 6.8), ''Methanobac'' inoculum (10 mL), and test chemicals at levels between 10 and 100 ..mu..L/mL. Thirteen chemicals were nontoxic, and included the paraffins (C/sub 6/-C/sub 12/), phthalates, organophosphorus compounds, Freon 113 (1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoro ethane), Aliquat 336 (tricaprylylmethyl ammonium chloride), di-isoamyl ether, and trioctylamine. Other amine extractants were partially toxic. Alcohols (C/sub 5/-C/sub 12/), ketones (C/sub 5/-C/sub 8/), benzene derivatives, isoamyl acetate, and di-isopropyl ether were toxic. Generally, the chemicals were not toxic unless present at levels in excess of that expected to be required to saturate the aqueous phase. Total gas production was a good indicator of toxicity even within 24 h, but the presence of homofermentative (nongas producing) lactic acid bacteria complicated interpretation. ''Methanobac'' inoculum was compared with an inoculum derived from a rumen culture for four test chemicals. The results were essentially the same. However, the toxicity of a chemical to bacteria is likely to vary considerably between bacterial species.
- Research Organization:
- Biotechnology Group, CSIRO Division of Chemical Technology, P.O. Box 310, South Melbourne, Victoria, 3205
- OSTI ID:
- 5578269
- Journal Information:
- Biotechnol. Bioeng.; (United States), Vol. XXV:5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Mixed Carboxylic Acid Production by Megasphaera elsdenii from Glucose and Lignocellulosic Hydrolysate
Bioaugmentation of an Engineered Metal Treatment Wetland with Cupriavidus SRS
Related Subjects
ALCOHOLS
TOXICITY
ALKANES
AMINES
AMMONIUM CHLORIDES
BACTERIA
BIOASSAY
BENZENE
ETHERS
FREONS
KETONES
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PHTHALIC ACID ESTERS
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ETHANOL
FERMENTATION
REAGENTS
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
AMMONIUM HALIDES
AROMATICS
BIOCONVERSION
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ESTERS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
560302* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Microorganisms- (-1987)