The anaerobic utilisation of cyanide in the presence of sugars by microbial cultures can involve an abiotic process.
The degradation of cyanide under anaerobic conditions in the presence of a growing culture of a strain of Klebsiella planticola has been shown to be due to a chemical process dependent upon the presence of a reducing sugar in the medium. The conversion of cyanide to ammonia was independent of any biological factors under these conditions.
Hope
K M
KM
Biological Laboratory, University of Kent, Canterbury, U.K.
Knowles
C J
CJ
D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003470:Culture Media; D003486:Cyanides / Q000378:metabolism*; D007709:Klebsiella / Q000378:metabolism*
D002241:Carbohydrates; D003470:Culture Media; D003486:Cyanides; D000641:Ammonia