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Mineralization of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (picric acid): Characterization and phylogenetic identification of microbial strains

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Journal of Industrial Microbiology

Abstract

Four bacterial strains that use picric acid as their sole carbon and energy source were isolated. Mineralization of14C-UL-picric acid showed that up to 65% of the radioactivity was released as14CO2. HPLC and UV/Vis spectral analyses indicated complete degradation of picric acid by these organisms. HPLC and LC/MS analyses showed transient formation of 2,4-dinitrophenol during picric acid degradation. Degradation of picric acid was concomitant with stoichiometric release of three moles of nitrite per mole of picric acid. The four picric acid degraders were identified as close relatives ofNocardioides simplex (ATCC 6946) based on their small subunit (16S) rRNA gene sequences.

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Author notes

  1. J Rajan

    Present address: Zeneca, Biocides, 1800 Concord Pike, 248, 19897, Wilmington, DE, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. BioProcess Development Center, Central Research and Development, Dupont Co, Experimental Station, 19880-0173, Wilmington, DE, USA

    J Rajan, K Valli & F S Sariaslani

  2. Environmental Biotechnology, Central Research and Development, Dupont Co, Experimental Station, 19880-0173, Wilmington, DE, USA

    R E Perkins

  3. Department of Biology and Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Indiana University, 47405, Bloomington, IN, USA

    S M Barns, A-L Reysenbach, S Rehm, M Ehringer & N R Pace

Authors
  1. J Rajan
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  2. K Valli
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  3. R E Perkins
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  4. F S Sariaslani
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  5. S M Barns
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  6. A-L Reysenbach
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  7. S Rehm
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  8. M Ehringer
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  9. N R Pace
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Additional information

This is contribution 7167 from Central Research & Development, Dupont Co, Wilmington, DE 19880, USA

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Rajan, J., Valli, K., Perkins, R.E. et al. Mineralization of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (picric acid): Characterization and phylogenetic identification of microbial strains. Journal of Industrial Microbiology 16, 319–324 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01570041

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01570041

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