Microbial oxidation of gaseous hydrocarbons: production of methylketones from corresponding n-alkanes by methane-utilizing bacteria

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1980 · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5277347

Patel, R N; Hou, C T; Laskin, A I; Felix, A; Derelanko, P

Cell suspensions of methane-utilizing bacteria grown on methane oxidized n-alkanes (propane, butane, pentane, hexane) to their corresponding methylketones (acetone, 2-butanone, 2-pentanone, 2-hexanone). The product methylketones accumulated extracellularly. The rate of production of methylketones varied with the organism used for oxidation; however, the average rate of acetone, 2-butanone, 2-pentanone, and 2-hexanone production was 1.2, 1.0, 0.15, and 0.025 ..mu..mol/h per 5.0 mg of protein in cell suspensions. Primary alcohols and aldehydes were also detected in low amounts as products of n-alkane (propane and butane) oxidation, but were rapidly metabolized further by cell suspensions. The optimal conditions for in vivo methylketone formation from n-alkanes were compared in Methylococcus capsulatus (Texas strain), Methylosinus sp. (CRL-15), and Methylobacterium sp. (CRL-26). The rate of acetone and 2-butanone production was linear for the first 60 min of incubation and directly increased with cell concentration up to 10 mg of protein per ml for all three cultures tested. The optimal temperatures for the production of acetone and 2-butanone were 35/sup 0/C for Methylosinus trichosporium sp. (CRL-15) and Methylobacterium sp. (CRL-26) and 40/sup 0/C for Methylococcus capsulatus (Texas). Metal-chelating agents inhibited the production of methylketones, suggesting the involvement of a metal-containing enzymatic system in the oxidation of n-alkanes to the corresponding methylketones. The soluble crude extracts derived from methane-utilizing bacteria contained an oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent dehydrogenase which catalyzed the oxidation of secondary alcohols.

• Research Organization: Exxon Research and Engineering Co., Linden, NJ
• OSTI ID: 5277347
• Journal Information: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Vol. 39:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BACTERIA
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BUTANE
OXIDATION
HEXANE
PENTANE
PROPANE
CHELATING AGENTS
DEHYDROGENASES
KETONES
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TIME DEPENDENCE
ALKANES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ENZYMES
HYDROCARBONS
KINETICS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
REACTION KINETICS
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