This study is concerned with certain factors affecting the content of lactobacillic acid in Lactobacillus plantarum. Three main areas of investigation are reported herein. The effects of both the oxygen tension and the pH of the culture medium on the accumulation of lactobacillic acid were determined. In addition, monolayer studies were conducted to determine the influence of cyclopropane fatty acid content on the molecular packing of membrane lipids.

In model reaction systems to test amino acids in chlorinated waste effluents, several amino acids were chlorinated at high chlorine doses. (2000-4000 mg/1). Amino acids present in municipal waste effluents before and after chlorination were concentrated and purified using cation exchange and Chelex resins. After concentration and cleanup of the samples, the amino acids were derivatized by esterification of the acid functional groups and acylation of the amine groups. Identification and quantification of the amino acids and chlorination products was carried out by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, using a digital computer data system. Analysis of the waste products revealed the presence of new carbon-chlorine bonded derivatives of the amino acid tyrosine when the effluents were treated with heavy doses of chlorine.