FTIR-spectroscopic studies of the fine structure of nitrocellulose treated by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans.

Abstract Most studies have concluded that nitrocellulose (NC) with high degree of nitrogen content is resistant to biodegradation. Our results demonstrated that NC (>11%N) does undergo biotransformation in the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio desulfuricans 1388. FTIR analyses indicated that the substitution of nitro groups for OH − groups took place. The spectrum of precipitate obtained after acetone extraction of NC resembled mainly the spectrum of native cellulose. Thus the synthetic unbiodegradable polymer was transformed to the natural compound accessible for microorganisms.