Bacteria and formaldehyde
Bacteria and formaldehyde
Keyword:Formaldehyde
While formaldehyde is used as a disinfectant, a conservation agent or in industrial processes, its residues in water or exhaust air can pose a heath threat. Now scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute in Stuttgart have isolated a bacterial strain with an exceptionally high formaldehyde tolerance. The strain pseudomonas putida J3 can rapidly purify formaldehyde polluted waste air or water. Research demonstrated the purification of heavily polluted waste water in a two-stage process. A simple biosensor based on the bacteria can be utilised in several fields, such as for formaldehyde measurements in gas or liquid phases, waste water monitoring, exhaust gas measurements, and monitoring and control in industry.
A memorandum ("Bacteria Break Down Formaldehyde and Act as a Biosensor"), Environment Information Note,Number 40.98 (E), 2 July 1998, 2pp.) issued by the British Embassy in Bonn is available from Global Information on Science and Technology by quoting 23408P.
