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Biodegradation of methyl tert-butyl ether by cold-adapted mixed and pure bacterial cultures

  • Applied Microbial and Cell Physiology
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Abstract

An aerobic mixed bacterial culture (CL-EMC-1) capable of utilizing methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) as the sole source of carbon and energy with a growth temperature range of 3 to 30°C and optimum of 18 to 22°C was enriched from activated sludge. Transient accumulation of tert-butanol (TBA) occurred during utilization of MTBE at temperatures from 3°C to 14°C, but TBA did not accumulate above 18°C. The culture utilized MTBE at a concentration of up to 1.5 g l−1 and TBA of up to 7 g l−1. The culture grew on MTBE at a pH range of 5 to 9, with an optimum pH of 6.5 to 7.1. The specific growth rate of the CL-EMC-1 culture on 0.1 g l−1 of MTBE at 22°C and pH 7.1 was 0.012 h−1, and the growth yield was 0.64 g (dry weight) g−1. A new MTBE-utilizing bacterium, Variovorax paradoxus strain CL-8, isolated from the mixed culture utilized MTBE, TBA, 2-hydroxy isobutyrate, lactate, methacrylate, and acetate as sole sources of carbon and energy but not 2-propanol, acetone, methanol, formaldehyde, or formate. Two other isolates, Hyphomicrobium facilis strain CL-2 and Methylobacterium extorquens strain CL-4, isolated from the mixed culture were able to grow on C1 compounds. The combined consortium could thus utilize all of the carbon of MTBE.

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Acknowledgment

This work was funded in part by a grant from the National Technology Agency of Finland, TEKES to establish the Arctic Microbiology Research Consortium.

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  1. J. S. Uotila

    Present address: , 1176 Kuusamontie, 96900, Saarenkylä, Finland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ARMI, Arctic Microbiology Research Consortium, Finnish Forest Research Institute, Rovaniemi Research Station, Box 16, 96301, Rovaniemi, Finland

    G. M. Zaitsev

  2. Juvegroup Ltd., Rovaniemi, Finland

    J. S. Uotila

  3. Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, 76 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA

    M. M. Häggblom

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  1. G. M. Zaitsev
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  2. J. S. Uotila
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Correspondence to G. M. Zaitsev.

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Zaitsev, G.M., Uotila, J.S. & Häggblom, M.M. Biodegradation of methyl tert-butyl ether by cold-adapted mixed and pure bacterial cultures. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 74, 1092–1102 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-006-0737-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-006-0737-3

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