MICROBIAL-METABOLISM OF NITRILES AND CYANIDES

Pseudomonas putida isolated from contaminated industrial wastewaters and soil sires was able to utilize acetonitrile and sodium cyanide as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen. The P. putida cells were immobilized in calcium alginate. The rate of degradation of acetonitrile (160 mM) and sodium cyanide (40 mM) by the immobilized cells of P. putida was studied by determining the products: NH3 and CO2. The product-dependent kinetics of sodium cyanide and acetonitrile indicate that the rate of degradation of these compounds is in the first order kinetics. The present study concludes that remediation of organic nitriles and inorganic cyanides can be achieved with immobilized cells of P. putida.