MICROBIAL OXIDATION OF NAPHTHALENE I

Abstract

Fifty bacterial cultures capable of utilizing naphthalene as sole C source during growth were isolated from naphthalene-enriched soil, using mineral salts-naphthalene enrichment media. Thirty-two of these cultures produced salicylic acid in the presence of CaCO3, but only one of these 32 cultures produced it in its absence. All cultures were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa.sn Salicylate accumulation was dependent upon forced aeration, initial cultural pH near 8, and the buffering capacity of the medium. In media containing 2.0 to 2.5% K2HPO4, naphthalene was converted almost totally to salicylic acid. In the absence of Fe or Ca ions, salicylate accumulation was reduced by approximately 90%. Mg deficiencies caused a 55% decrease in salicylate yield; other ion deficiencies were without effect.