Oxidation of Naphthalene by Cyanobacteria and Microalgae

Eighteen different algal cultures were examined for their ability to metabolize naphthalene. The strains tested included nine cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), five green algae, one red alga and one brown alga; two diatoms were also examined. All these organisms oxidized naphthalene under photoautotrophic conditions. Experiments with [14C]naphthalene showed that each organism oxidized naphthalene to at least six metabolites. One of the metabolites was identified as 1-naphthol. Under the experimental conditions used in this study the extent of naphthalene metabolism to organic-soluble derivatives ranged from 0·1 to 2·4%.