PROPERTIES OF ALCALIGENES-XYLOSOXIDANS ACTIVELY OXIDIZING MALEIC-ACID

A facultative Gram-negative anaerobic bacterium capable of growing in a medium containing up to 25.0 g/l maleic acid (with a 60% utilization) has been isolated from activated sludge obtained from the Kuriyan sewage treatment plant. The bacterium is identified as Alcaligenes xylosoxidans subsp. xylosoxidans. A. xylosoxidans 260 kM MGU dissociates to form R-, S-, and M-varieties, of which the S-variety is the most stable. In the media containing up to 15.0 g/l maleic acid, M- and S-varieties show a better growth and utilization of the substrate, while in a media with an initial content of 25 g/l maleic acid, R- and S-varieties do.