Degradation of Aliphatic Amide Mixture by Immobilized and Nonimmobilized Cells of Pseudomonas sp.

Abstract

A strain of Pseudomonas sp. capable of utilizing acrylamide as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen was tested for its ability to degrade an aliphatic amide mixture containing acrylamide, propionamide, butyramide, and methacrylamide. Batch cultures of Pseudomonas sp. degraded butyramide and propionamide at the rate of 115 μmol/h and at the rate of 127 μmol/h to butyric and propionic acids and ammonia in 48 h. Acrylamide and methacrylamide were degraded to acrylic acid and methacrylic acid in 72 h at the rate of 97 and 78 μmol/h, respectively. Faster rates of degradation could be obtained when the bacteria was immobilized