Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics www.atmos-chem-phys.net 1680-7316 1680-7324 7 15 2007 10.5194/acp-7-4159-2007 http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/7/4159/2007/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/7/4159/2007/acp-7-4159-2007.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/7/4159/2007/acp-7-4159-2007.pdf 4159 4169 2007-08-09 A fate for organic acids, formaldehyde and methanol in cloud water: their biotransformation by micro-organisms P. Amato F. Demeer A. Melaouhi S. Fontanella A.-S. Martin-Biesse M. Sancelme P. Laj A.-M. Delort Laboratoire de Synthèse et Etudes de Systèmes à Intérêt Biologique, UMR 6504 CNRS-Université Blaise Pascal, Aubière, France Laboratoire de Météorologie Physique, UMR 6016, CNRS-Université Blaise Pascal Aubière, France now at: Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA The interactions between microbial and chemical contents of cloud water were investigated. First, we observe that the bulk cloud water solution provides a substantial environment where bacteria can develop significantly. Then, a total number of 60 microbial strains originating from seven distinct samples of cloud water and affiliated to various taxonomic groups were examined for their ability to degrade some of the main atmospheric carboxylic compounds: formate, acetate, lactate, succinate, as well as formaldehyde and methanol. Biodegradation tests show that all these compounds can be transformed when used as single carbonaceous substrates, with activities depending on both the strain and the compound. The highest capacities of biodegradation are observed towards formaldehyde, formate and acetate, which are also the more concentrated compounds typically measured in cloud water. 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