The Degradation of 1-Phenylalkanes by an Oil-Degrading Strain of Alinetobacter Iwoffi

Abstract

An oil-degrading bacterium identified as Acinetobacter lwoffi was isolated by elective culture on North Sea Forties crude oil from an activated sludge sample. It grew on a wide range of n-alkanes (C12 – C28) and 1 –phenylalkanes, including 1-pheny1dodecane, 1-pheny1tridecane and 1-pheny1tetradecane. The organism degraded 1-pheny1dodecane to phenylacetic acid which was further metabolized via homogentisic acid, whilst 1-phenyltridecane was transformed to trans-cin-namic and 3-pheny1propionic acid which were not further metabolized. Evidence is presented for a relationship between aromatic amino acid catabolism and 1-pheny1dodecane degradation in this organism.