MICROBIAL DECOMPOSITION OF HALOGENATED PROPIONIC AND ACETIC ACIDS

Microorganisms actively degrading 2,2-dichloropropionic acid have been isolated and characterized. The responsible organisms, strains of Nocardia and Pseudomonas, liberate 90 to 100% of the halogen in dichloropropionate in periods of 3 weeks. Evidence for decomposition without chloride production has been obtained. Significant differences exist between isolates in the types of halogen-containing fatty acids utilized. Studies of the effect of halogen number and position show that beta-substituted propionates are more slowly attacked than the corresponding alpha-substituted compounds.