Some physiological characteristics of Acinetobacter spp. accumulating large amounts of phosphate

Acinetobacter strain 210A has been grown in batch and continuous cultures in an acetate medium. The P content of the cells varied from 6–10% of the dry matter and phosphate uptake continued for months as long as carbon and nitrogen source, inorganic salts and oxygen were present. The growing ( = metabolizing) bacterial cells released phosphate under anaerobic conditions. Addition of CO 2 , acetate and ethanol or other reduced carbon sources stimulated the rate of the phosphate release but after 24 hours of anaerobiosis the obtained results with or without additions were similar.