Studies on the resistance of activated sludge bacteria to high concentrations of methanol, butanol, glycol, cyclohexanone and cyclohexylamine.

The resistance of bacterial strains isolated from activated sludge purifying petrochemical wastewaters to high concentrations of methanol, butanol, glycol, cyclohexanone and cyclohexylamine was examined. The strains were found to be resistant to up to 5000 mg/l of methanol, butanol and glycol. Cyclohexylamine in concentration 1500 mg/l completely inhibited the growth of all examined strains whereas cyclohexanone even at concentration 4500 mg/l eliminated only about half of the isolated strains. The highest resistance to cyclohexane derivatives was shown by bacteria belonging to Pseudomonas III. None of the studied strains was, however, able to utilize cyclohexanone and cyclohexylamine as a source of barbon and energy.