[Storage of Pseudomonas strains degrading the surfactants]. / Khranenie psevdomonad, razlagaiushchikh poverkhnostno-aktivnye veshchestva.

The survival rate and the destruction activity of Pseudomonas strains decomposing anionic and ampholytic surfactants were studied in the course of their storage for a long period of time. The strains were shown to remain viable and active after being freeze-dried for a year. Therefore, lyophilisation can be recommended as the main method of storage for bacterial strains decomposing the following surfactants: sulfoethoxylate, sulfonate, cyclimide, and amidobetaine.

[Degradation of alkylsulfates by a Pseudomonas aeruginosa culture immobilized on a polyvinyl alcohol fiber]. / Razrushenie alkilsul'fatov kul'turoi Pseudomonas aeruginosa, immobilizovannoi na polivinilspirtovom volokne.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells capable of destroying alkyl sulfates, anionic surfactants, were immobilised on activated polyvinyl alcohol fibres. The immobilised cells could decompose SDS. When the immobilised cells were used repeatedly, their biomass increased but the activity hardly changed.

[Bacterial destruction of anionic sulfoethoxylate surfactants]. / Bakterial'naia destruktsiia anionnykh poverkhnostno-aktivnykh sul'foétoksilatov.

A Pseudomonas putida strain G was isolated and its activity in the destruction of sulfoethoxylates (surfactants) was studied as a function of the cultivation conditions. Ultrastructural changes were found in the cells utilizing sulfoethoxylates. Sulfoethoxylates were found to be decomposed by P. putida G via two pathways: (a) desulfation of the molecule and (b) cleavage of the alkyl ester bond. The intermediate products were not toxic and did not pollute the habitat. The strain can be used for microbiological purification of sewage.

[Breakdown of alkyl sulfonate by Pseudomonas rathonis]. / Razrushenie alkilsul'fonata Pseudomonas rathonis.

Pseudomonas rathonis T/1 utilizing alkyl sulfonate, an anionic surfactant, as a sole source of carbon and energy was isolated from the soil taken near a plant producing synthetic detergents. Pseudomonas rathonis T, a more active variant of the above strain, was obtained by selection under the conditions of continuous cultivation. As was shown by identification of intermediate products in the destruction of alkyl sulfonate, its molecule is first cleaved at the C--S bond yielding higher aliphatic alcohols which are then oxidized to the corresponding carboxylic acids. The strain can be used for purification of industrial sewage containing anionic surfactants.