The Degradation of Isopropylbenzene and Isobutylbenzene by Pseudomonas sp.

Abstract

To clarify biodegradation pathways of isoalkyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbons, oxidation products of isopropylbenzene and isobutylbenzene by Ps. desmolytica S449B1 and Ps. convexa S107B1 were examined.
Oxidation products from isopropyl benzene were determined to be 3-isopropylcatechol and (+)-2-hydroxy-7-methyl-6-oxooctanoic acid. Isobutylbenzene was also oxidized to 3-isobutylcatechol and (+)-2-hydroxy-8-methyl-6-oxononanoic acid by the same strains.
From these results, the existence of an unknown reductive step in the degradation of these isoalkyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbons and the initial oxidation of these aromatic hydrocarbons by the strains were made clear. The degradation pathways of isopropyl benzene and isobutylbenzene by these strains were discussed.