Degradation of p-Aminoazobenzene byBacillus subtilis

p-Aminoazobenzene (PAAB) was degradated byBacillus subtilis. Both aniline and p-phenylenediamine as degradative compounds from PAAB were identified by thin layer chromatographic-, and high performance liquid chromatographic-methods. This fact suggests that the first degradative reaction of PAAB byB. subtilis is reductive fission of azo bond in PAAB.