[Isolation and selection of methylamines and dimethyl formamide degrading microorganisms].

From an activated sludge sample, microorganisms capable to degrade monomethylamine (MMA), dimethylamine (DMA), trimethylamine (TMA), and dimethylformamide (DMF) were isolated. These compounds are present in the wastewaters from a petrochemical plant. Microbial communities were cultivated, in aerobic conditions in a 2-liter bioreactor fed with the wastewater. Only four different kinds of microorganisms were obtained, but they could maintain their degradative capacity after several transfers. This microbial biomass was able to reduce 90% of the dissolved pollutants in a sample of industrial wastewater, mainly MMA, DMA, TMA, and DMF, measured as dissolved organic carbon, in approximately 5 days.