Abstract
The microbial degradation of numerous compounds has been studied and the biochemical pathways and mechanisms of enzyme action have been elucidated particularly with respect to pure cultures of bacteria. This research has been extremely valuable but to date industrial application of the knowledge has been somewhat limited. However, public awareness of the environment and governmental pressure in the form of the recent “Green Bill” has stimulated industry into taking measures to reduce the discharge of compounds likely to cause environmental problems. Biodegradation can play a significant role as, when it is achievable, it is by far the most economic method of treatment for removal of pollutants from a waste effluent.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Arnaud A, Galzy P, Jallageas JC (1976) Rev Ferm Ind Alimentaire 31: 39–44
Arnaud A, Galzy P, Jallageas JC (1977) Acetonitrilase from a Brevibacterium strain Agric Biol Chem 41:2183–2191
Asano Y, Ando S, Tani Y, Yamada H (1980) Mirobial degradation of nitrile compounds. Part III. Degradation of dinitriles by Fusarium merismoides T4-1 Agric Biol Chem 44:2497–2498
Asano Y, Ando S, Tani Y, Yamada H, Ueno T (1981) Microbial degradation of nitrile compounds. Part IV. Fungal degradation of triacrylonitrile Agrie Biol Chem 45:57–62
Asano Y, Fujishiro K, Tani Y, Yamada H (1982a) Microbial degradation of nitrile compounds. Part V. J-1. Purification and characterisation Agrie Biol Chem 46:1165–1174
Asano Y, Tachibana M, Tani Y, Yamada H (1982b) Microbial degradation of nitrile compounds. Part VI. Purification and characterisation of amidase which participates in nitrile degradation Agric Biol Chem 46:1175–1181
Asano Y, Yasuda Y, Tani Y and Yamda H (1982c) Microbial degradation of nitrile compounds. Part VII. A new enzymic method of acrylamide production Agrie Biol Chem 48:1183–1189
Bui K, Arnaud A, Galzy PF (1982) A new method to prepare amides by bioconversion of corresponding nitriles Enzyme Microb Technol 4:195–197
Bui K, Fradet H, Arnaud A, Galzy PF (1984) A nitrile hydratase with a wide substrate spectrum produced by a Brevibacterium sp. J Gen Microbiol 130: 89–93
Clarke PM (1986) Enzymatic treatment of cyanide bearing effluents. In: Immobilisation of Ions by Biosorption Eccles H, Hunt S (eds) Ellis Horwood (London) pp 245–256
Collins PA, Knowles CJ (1983) The utilisation of nitriles and amides by Nocardia rhodochrous J Gen Microbiol 129:711–718
DiGeronimo MJ, Antoine AD (1976) Metabolism of acetonitrile and propionitrile by Nocardia rhodochrous LL100-21 Appl Environ Microbiol 31:900–906
Evered D, Harnett S (1988) Cyanide compounds in Biology CIBA Foundation Symposium, John Wiley and Sons p 140
Firmin JL, Gray DO (1976) The Biochemical Pathway for the Breakdown of Methyl Cyanide (Acetonitrile) in Bacteria. Biochem J 158:223–229
Fukuda Y, Fukui M, Harada T, Izumi Y (1971) Formation of α-amino acids from α-aminonitrile by cell suspensions of a strain of Corynebacterium Hakko Kogaku Zasshi 49:1011–1016
Grant DJW (1973) Degradative versatility of Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum NCIB 10803 which uses amides as carbon source Antonie Van Leewenhoek 39:273–279
Green J, Smith DH (1972) Processes for the detoxification of waste cyanides Metal Finishing Journal (Aug) pp 229-234
Harris RE, Bunch AW, Knowles CJ (1987) Microbial cyanide and nitrile metabolism Sci Prog Oxf 71:293–304
Harris RE, Knowles CJ (1983a) Isolation and growth of a Pseudomonas species that utilises cyanide as a source of nitrogen J Gen Microbiol 129:1005–1011
Harris RE, Knowles CJ (1983b) The conversion of cyanide to ammonia by extracts of a strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens that utilises cyanide as a source of nitrogen for growth FEMS Microbiol Lett 20:337–341
Howe RHL (1965) Biodestruction of cyanide wastes — advantages and disadvantages Air Water Pollution 9:463–478
Jallageas JC, Arnaud A, Galzy PF (1980) Bioconversions of nitriles and their applications Adv Biochem Eng 14:1–32
Kato AK, Yamamura K (1976) Treating waste water conatining nitriles and cynaides US Patent Number 3 940 332 (Feb 24th) US Patent Office
Knowles CJ (1976) Micro-organisms and cyanide Bact Revs 40:652–680
Knowles CJ, Wyatt JM (1987) The Potential for Biotransforming Toxic Wastes to Harmless By-Products. World Biotech Rep 1(5):61–66
Kuwahara M, Yanase H, Ishida Y, Kikuchi Y (1980) Metabolism of aliphatic nitriles in Fusarium solani J Ferment Technol 58:573–577
Lettinga G, van Velsen AFM, de Zeeuw WJ, Hobma SW (1979) The Application of Anaerobic Digestion to Industrial Pollution Treatment. In: Anaerobic Digestion Stafford DA, Wheatley BI, Hughes DE (eds) Appl Sci Pub Ltd pp 167-186
Linton EA, Knowles CJ (1986) Utilisation of aliphatic amides and nitriles by Nocardia rhodochrous LL100-21 J Gen Microbiol 132:1493–1501
Ludzak FJ, Schaffer RB (1960) Activated sludge treatment of cyanide, cyanate and thiocyanate Eng Bull Purdue University 106: 439–460
Macadam AM, Knowles CJ (1984) Purification and properties of a β-cyano-L-alanine synthase from the cyanide-producing bacterium, Chromobacterium violaceum Biochim Biophys Acta 786:123–132
Macadam AM, Knowles CJ (1985) The stereospecific bioconversion of α-aminopropionitrile to L-alanine by an immobilised bacterium isolated from soil Biotechnol Lett 7:865–870
Mimura A, Kawano T, Yamaga K (1969) Application of micro-organisms to the petrochemical industry. I. Assimilation of nitriles by micro-organisms Hakko Kogaku Zasshi 47:631–638
Mudder TI, Whitlock JL (1984a) Biological treatment of cyanidation waste waters Minerals and Metallurgical Processing 1:161–165
Mudder TI, Whitlock JL (1984b) Biological removal of free and complex cyanides and thiocyanates from water U.S. Patent Number 4 440 644 (Apr 3rd) US Patent Office
Nazly N, Knowles CJ, Beardsmore A J, Naylor WT, Corcoran EG (1983) Detoxification of cyanide by immobilised fungi J Chem Tech Biotechnol 33B:119–126
Palmer SJ (1988) Cadmium Biosorption by Bacteria PhD Thesis, University of Bath UK
Raef SF, Characklis WG, Kessick MA, Ward CH (1975) Fate of cyanide and related compounds in industrial waste treatment Eng Bull Purdue University 145: 832–840
Richards DJ, Shieh WK (1988) Anoxic/oxic activated sludge treatment of cyanogens and ammonia in the presence of phenols. In: Biotechnology for Degradation of Toxic Chemicals in Hazardous Wastes Scholze RJ, (ed) Noyes Data Cor NJ, USA pp 573–582
Richards DJ, Shieh WK (1989) Anoxic-oxic activated-sludge treatment of cyanides and phenols Biotechnol Bioeng 33:32–38
Sterritt RM, Lester JN (1986) Heavy Metal Immobilisation by Bacterial Extracellular Polymers. In: Immobilisation of ions by biosorption Eccles H, Hunt S (eds) Ellis Horwood (London) pp 121–134
Wyatt JM (1988) Biotechnological treatment of industrial wastewater Microbiological Sciences 5:186–190
Wyatt JM, Linton EA (1988) The Industrial Potential of Microbial Nitrile Biochemistry. In: Cyanide Compounds in Biology CIBA Foundation Symposium 140:32–48
Yamada H, Asano Y, Hino T, Tani Y (1979) Microbial utilisation of acrylonitrile J Ferment Technol 57:8–14
Yamada H, Asano Y, Tani Y (1980) Microbial degradation of nitrile compounds. II. Microbial utilisation of glutaronitrile J Ferment Technol 58:495–500
Zabban W, Helwick R (1980) Cyanide waste treatment technology-the old, the new and the practical Plating and Surface Finishing 67:56–59
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1991 Springer-Verlag London Limited
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Wyatt, J.M., Palmer, S.J. (1991). Biodegradation of Nitriles and Cyanide. In: Betts, W.B. (eds) Biodegradation. Springer Series in Applied Biology. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3470-1_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3470-1_4
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-3472-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-3470-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive