Structural factors influencing the biodegradation of imides.
Comparative studies on the biodegradability of amides and imides are presented. Low-molecular-weight imides of varying chain lengths (4, 6, 7, 8, 18, and 20 carbons) were biodegrable. N-alkyl substitution of amides and imides resulted in non-biodegrable derivatives when the amide portion was greater than two carbons in length. N-alkyl-substituted derivatives of acetamide or diacetamide, however, were biodegrable. Several soil isolates, including Aspergillus niger and species of Flavobacterium and Alcaligenes, were capable of growth with imides as sole N or C sources.
D000421:Alcaligenes / Q000378:metabolism; D000577:Amides / Q000378:metabolism; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000378:metabolism; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D005417:Flavobacterium / Q000378:metabolism; D005658:Fungi / Q000378:metabolism*; D007094:Imides / Q000378:metabolism*; D012988:Soil Microbiology
D000577:Amides; D007094:Imides