Enrichment and isolation of a nitropropanol-metabolizing bacterium from the rumen

A bacterium capable of metabolizing nitropropanol, nitropropionate, and nitrate has been isolated from a mixed ruminal population enriched for enhanced rates of nitropropanol metabolism. The numbers of nitropropanol-metabolizing bacteria in mixed populations increased > 10,000-fold during enrichment; the rates of nitropropanol metabolism increased 8-fold. Hydrogen and phytone were important nutrients for nitropropanol metabolism.