title: Enhanced biodegradation of a hard bis-quaternary ammonium salt.
abstract: Bacterial strains with a high biodegradation potential were isolated from activated sludge. Their ability to decompose the hard bis-quaternary ammonium salt FB was determined by the method of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in a mineral medium, where the compound FB was the only source of carbon. The COD values were very low after 21 d and in the course of this period they reached zero level twice. The contribution of adsorption to decrease the COD value was small. The maximum COD decrease was accompanied by an increase of cell respiration. It is suggested that FB is effectively decomposed in spite of the fact that according to its structure it is a typical hard detergent.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University, Bratislava, Czechoslovakia.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cupková
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sirotková
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mlynarcík
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lacko
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Devínsky
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D012722:Sewage; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D012722:Sewage; C078578:N,N'-bis(dimethylundecyl)-3-methylaza-1,5-pentanediammonium dibromide