Summary
A variety of microorganisms were screened for their ability to utilize furfural and possible intermediates in its degradative pathway. Compounds tested included furfural, furfuryl alcohol, 2-furoic acid, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, di- and tetra-hydrofurans, 1,5-pentanediol and 1,4-butanediol. The objective of the research was to determine whether microbial strains might be found that degraded furfuryl via diols. If so, then it might be possible to block the metabolic pathway at the appropriate point allowing accumulation of diol(s). A promising bacterial strain was identified that could utilize furfural, some of its derivatives and diols, which is a candidate for further studies.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdulrashid, N. and D. P. Clark, (1987), J. Bacteriol., 169(3): 1267–1271.
Bernhardt, D. and H. Diekmann, (1991), Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 36:120–123.
Boopathy, R. and L. Daniels, (1991), Current Microbiol. 23:327–332.
Brownstein, A. M., (1991), Chemtech, August, pp.506-510.
Brune, G., S. M. Schoberth and H. Sahm, (1982), Process Biochem. 17:20–35.
Farbood, M. I. and B. J. Willis, (1989), US patent 4,798,799. Example 4.
Folkerts, M., U. Ney, H. Kneifel, E. Stackebrandt, E. G. Witte, H. Forstel, S. M. Schoberth, and H. Sahm (1989), System. Appl. Microbiol. 11:161–169.
Kaufman, D. and W. Reeve, (1955), Org. Syn., Coll. Vol. III, p.693.
Knight, E. V., N. J. Novick, D. L. Kaplan and J. R. Meeks (1990), Environ. Toxicol. Chem., 9:725–730.
Koenig, K. and J. R. Andreesen, (1989), Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 55(7): 1829–1834.
Kuhn, E. P. and J. M. Suflita, (1989), Environ. Toxicol. Chemistry, 8:1149–1158.
Mccarty, P.L., L. Y. Young, J. M. Gossett, D. C. Stuckey and J. B. Healy Jr., (1977), In: Schlegel and Barnea (eds.), Microbial Energy Conversion, Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp. 179–199.
Menge and Kronberg, (1967), Arzneimiltel-Forsch, 17:659.
Miller, J. H. (1972), “Experiments in Molecular Genetics,” Cold Spring Harbor, P.431.
Mitsubishi Kasei Corporation, (1988), Chemtech, December, pp.759-763.
Tanaka, K. (1992), J. Ferment. Bioeng., 73(5):362–365.
Trudgill, P. W. (1984), In: D. T. Gibson (ed.) Microbial Degradation of Organic Compounds, Marcel Dekker, Inc. New York and Basel, pp.295–308.
Wang, P. and S. Krawiec, (1994), Arch. Microbiol., 161:266–271
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, P., Brenchley, J.E. & Humphrey, A.E. Screening microorganisms for utilization of furfural and possible intermediates in its degradative pathway. Biotechnol Lett 16, 977–982 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00128637
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00128637