Dihexyl sulfosuccinate biodegradation by mixed cultures.

The primary biodegradation of dihexyl sulfosuccinate has been demonstrated using two single cultures and three mixed bacterial cultures of Comamonas terrigena. Primary biodegradation was found in all variants. The highest biotransformation rate and efficiency was observed in one of the single strains. No synergistic effect on degradation was found in mixed cultures.

Effect of starvation and chloramphenicol on acceleration of bacterial dihexyl sulfosuccinate biotransformation.

Starvation for carbon and energy sources accelerated the biotransformation of the anion-active surfactant dihexyl sulfosuccinate (DHS) by Comamonas terrigena cells. Chloramphenicol (Cm) added at different time intervals to non-starved cells inhibited the DHS transformation. The largest difference between cells treated and non-treated by Cm was observed for a 16-h-starvation period. Protein synthesis de novo during starvation enhanced the DHS biotransformation efficiency. A partial transformation of DHS in the presence of Cm indicated the constitutive character of enzymes involved in primary DHS biodegradation.