ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF N,N-DIMETHYLFORMAMIDE-BIODEGRADING BACTERIA

N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF)-using bacteria were isolated from soils in a factory which has produced DMF for about 20 years. Isolates DM-15 and DM-82 resembled Paracoccus denitrificans, and isolate DM-81 does Pseudomonas aminovorans on the basis of morphological and chemotaxonomical characteristics. Methylobacterium sp. TH-15 and Mycobacterium sp. TH-35, reported previously as tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH)-using bacteria, can use DMF. These five strains use DMF up to 2 or 3 wt%, and especially isolates DM-15 and DM-82 use DMF strongly. Dimethylamine, monomethylamine, and formic acid as intermediates from DMF are detected in the broth of flask cultures. Isolate DM-15 biodegrades 1% DMF in continuous culture at a dilution rate below 0.20 h-1 completely. This bacterium seems to be useful for the biodegradation of waste fluids containing DMF. © 1990.