DECOMPOSITION OF NON-NITROGENOUS ORGANIC MATTER 



469 



acids. Maleic, jS-oxy-butyric, a-oxy-butyric and oxalic acids are 

 utilized only to a very limited extent. The decomposition of these 

 acids results in the formation of alkali carbonates, which lead to an 

 alkaline reaction of the medium: 



2 H • COO Na + 2 H 2 = Na 2 C0 3 + H 2 + C0 2 + 2 H 2 



C 2 H 4 2 



Acetic 



acid 



CH 4 + C0 2 ; or C 2 H 4 2 + 2 2 = 2 C0 2 + 2 H 2 



2 C 4 H 8 2 + 2 H 2 = 5 CH 4 + 3 C0 2 ; or C 4 H 8 2 + 5 2 = 4 C0 2 + 4 H 2 

 Butyric 

 acid 



CH 3 • CO • COOH = CH 3 • CHO + C0 2 

 Pyruvic acid Acetaldehyde 



Fumaric acid is decomposed by Bad. pyocyaneum 13 - to the lower fatty 

 acids, chiefly acetic; pyruvic acid may also be isolated. 



CHCOOH , C(OH)COOH CO • COOH , 



II -4 || ► J 



C HCOOH CH • COOH • CH 2 • COOH 



CH 3 • COOH + 2C0 2 



The role of pyruvic acid in fermentation processes (anaerobic utiliza- 

 tion of energy) suggested by Neuberg and associates found support 

 in various investigations on the nutrition of bacteria. 133 



Aspartic acid 



Malic acid g*gg£jg» 



Glycol lie acid 

 loxidation 



Tartaric acid 



I ' 



(dehydration J> 



Oxal- acetic acid- 



Acetic 



Succinic 



Furoartc 



acid oxidation acid oxidation acid 



A&°2^r G h c Z ri $ -lactic 

 gSZ^ ^ aldehyde l a 



<31-ycepol ■ 



Methyl 

 Glyoxal 



Pyruvic -^Bacterial 

 acid cells 



Alanine 



132 Quastel, J. H. The fermentation of the unsaturated dicarboxylic acids. 

 I. Fumaric acid. Biochem. Jour., 18: 365-380. 1924. 



133 Quastel, J. H. On a possible role of pyruvic acid in bacterial growth. 

 Biochem. Jour., 19: 641-644, 645-651, 652-659, 660-666. 1925. A detailed re- 

 view of the subject of the transformation of the sugar molecule by bacteria is 

 given by Schoen, M. Le probleme des fermentations. Masson et Cie. Paris. 

 1926. 



