Isolation and Characterization of Bacteria That Degrade Nitroglycerin

Abstract

Six strains of bacteria capable of degrading nitroglycerin (NG) were isolated from soil previously exposed to NG. Nitroglycerin degradation by each of the strains was characterized, with representative degradation patterns reported for two strains, Pseudomonas putida I-B and P. putida II-C. It was found that P. putida I-B denitrated NG into isomers of MNG with a preference for the denitration of nitroglycerin at the C2 position. P. putida II-C denitrated NO in a random fashion, producing a mixture of DNG isomers and a mixture of MNG isomers. Both strains liberated nitrite as a product of NG denitration. All six isolates were tested for their abilities to tolerate up to 3.96 mM NG. Nitroglycerin concentrations up to 1.32 mM did not inhibit growth of the six No-degrading isolates, whereas the growth of P. syringae pathovar syringae, an organism not previously exposed to NG, was inhibited at 0.44 mM NG. The growth of one No-degrading isolate was uninhibited at 3.52 mM NG and only partially inhibited at 3.96 mM NG.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1996
Accession Number
ADP017715

Entities

People

  • David S. Blehert
  • Glenn H. Chambliss
  • Kathy Becker

Organizations

  • University of Wisconsin–Madison

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Alcohols
  • Ammunition
  • Bacteria
  • Cells
  • Chromatography
  • Degradation
  • Detectors
  • Environment
  • Fungi
  • Identification
  • Identification Systems
  • Liquid Chromatography
  • Liquid Explosives
  • Nitroglycerin
  • Subcellular Fractions
  • Toxicity
  • Waste Water

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Agricultural Chemistry/Soil Science
  • Microbial Pathology