Growth Curves and pH-Optima for Cyanide Producing Bacteria

Hydrogen cyanide producing bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas were isolated and cultured so that activity could bo maintained under laboratory conditions. Formation of cyanide is influenced by the type of Carbon source and the amino acids contained in the media. The bacteria produced most cyanide when grown on succinate plus glycine methyl ester and on glucose plus glycine and D, L-methionine. pH-Optima for the production of cyanide by lyophilized bacteria were found to be 8.3 with Tris/HCI buffer.