Bacterial metabolism of quaternary ammonium compounds

Abstract

Of 10 quaternary ammonium compounds tested for biodegradation by the biological O2 demand technique, only decyl- and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromides were decomposed by organisms derived from sewage and soil. A mixture consisting of individual strains of Pseudomonas and Xanthomonas grew in solutions containing decyltrimethylammonium bromide as sole C source. The xanthomonad metabolized this quaternary ammonium compound in the presence of other organic molecules. The products of this activity included 9-carboxynonyl- and 7-carboxyheptyltrimethylammonium, suggesting that the terminal C of the decyl moiety is oxidized and the resulting carboxylic acid is subject to .beta.-oxidation.