Nitrification of Oxime Compounds by Heterotrophic Bacteria

Abstract

Production of nitrite from the oxime of pyruvic acid was observed with 3 groups of heterotrophic soil bacteria: Nocardia corallina. Alcaligenes spp. and Agrobacterium spp. The first could nitrify up to 64% of the oxime-N in an inorganic salts soln., the 2d and 3d up to 43 and 36%, resp. Glucose inhibited nitrification by stimulating the synthesis of cell substance. Nitrification by N. corallina ceased at C:N ratios above 20:1. Approx. 75-90% of the oxime-N was recovered as nitrite plus cell-N in cultures of Nocardia and Alcaligenes spp. In peptone medium N. corallina converted the oxime almost quantitatively to nitrite; the rate of nitrite production paralleled that of cell multiplication. Nitrite in peptone medium was removed further by Alcaligenes and Agrobacterium spp. and the latter organism produced denitrification. The oxime of oxaloacetic acid was readily nitrified by Alcaligenes spp. Acetoxime was nitrified only slightly and free hydroxylamine apparently not at all. Several other organisms, (excepting possibly) Corynebac-terium equi did not nitrify pyruvic acid oxime.