THE PRODUCTION OF 13 N 2 BY 50-MeV PROTONS FOR USE IN BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN FIXATION

An experimental system for the continuous production of radioisotopic nitrogen, 13 N 2 , has been developed using the sector-focused cyclotron at the University of Manitoba. The radioisotope is produced by 50 MeV proton bombardment of 14 N 2 with powdered melamine as the nitrogen-containing target m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Journal of Microbiology
Main Authors: Campbell, N. E. R., Dular, Ram, Lees, H., Standing, K. G.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1967
Subjects:
Genetics
Molecular Biology
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
General Medicine
Immunology
Microbiology
Arctic
Fort Churchill
Churchill
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/m67-076
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/m67-076
Description
Summary:An experimental system for the continuous production of radioisotopic nitrogen, 13 N 2 , has been developed using the sector-focused cyclotron at the University of Manitoba. The radioisotope is produced by 50 MeV proton bombardment of 14 N 2 with powdered melamine as the nitrogen-containing target material. A trap system necessary for the removal of unwanted reaction products is described and details of experimental procedures involving changes in proton beam current and in state of beam focus are presented.Using the radioisotope, a number of microorganisms isolated from sub-Arctic soils of the Fort Churchill region have been examined for their nitrogen fixation potential. Several of these, including a species of Rhodotorula and a species of Pullularia in addition to bacterial forms, have demonstrated nitrogen fixation at a rate comparable with that shown by Azotobacter vinelandii.

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