Microbial transformation of kepone.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain KO3 and a mixed aerobic enrichment culture, isolated from sewage sludge lagoon water, were found to aerobically transform the chlorinated insecticide Kepone, yielding monohydro-Kepone. Identification of the product was confirmed by gas chromatography and electron impact mass spectrometry. The mixed culture and P. aeruginosa strain KO3 produced about 4 and 16%, respectively, dihydro-Kepone, determined by cochromatography using authentic standards. Reduced amounts of monohydro-Kepone, compared with the mixed and pure cultures, were produced by James River sediment microorganisms. Kepone was not utilized as a sole carbon or energy source by any of the bacteria or mixed cultures examined in this study.