ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF TETRAMETHYLAMMONIUM-BIODEGRADING BACTERIA

Tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH)-using bacteria were isolated from soils in a factory which has produced similar C1 compounds with TMAH for 30 years. Four Gram-positive strains (TH-6, TH-30, TH-31 and TH-35) use TMAH easily, and grow in up to 8 wt% TMAH. Two Gram-negative strains (TH-3 and TH-15) use TMAH weakly, and grow in up to 3 wt% TMAH. The Gram-positive strains belong to the Mcobacterium, Gram-negative TH-3 resembles Pseudomonas aminovorans, and TH-15 belongs to the Methylobacterium from its morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics. Mycobacterium sp. TH-30 biodegrades 1% TMAH in a continuous culture with a dilution rate below 0.06 h-1 completely. This bacterium seems to be useful for the biodegradation of waste fluids containing TMAH. © 1990.