BIODEGRADATION OF 2-METHYLISOBORNEOL BY GRAVEL SAND FILTRATION

2-Methylisoborneol (MIB) and geosmin produced by blue-green algae were successfully removed in a new gravel filter plant. Small amounts of sludge were sampled from the filter layer and the bacteria able to decompose MIB were isolated from the sludge samples. By-products of the MIB degradation by these bacteria were also investigated. Among these bacteria, efforts were mainly focused on Pseudomonas fluorescens. The components of cell free extracts of this bacterium were studied in order to verify the biological reactions in vitro. 2-Methylenebornane, 2-methyl-2-bornene and isomers of these compounds were found to be a part of the by-products of the MIB degradation in the gravel filter.