Biodegradation of thiodiglycol, a hydrolyzate of the chemical weapon Yperite, by benzothiophene-desulfurizing bacteria

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 167; no. 1; pp. 124 - 127
• Main Authors: Bassi, Leila El, Shinzato, Naoya, Namihira, Tomoyuki, Oku, Hirosuke, Matsui, Toru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 15-08-2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Benzothiophene; Biodegradation, Environmental; Chemical Warfare Agents; Desulfurization; Exact sciences and technology; Gordonia; Hydrolysis; Mustard Gas; Nocardioform; Pollution; Rhodococcus; Rhodococcus - metabolism; Sulfhydryl Compounds - metabolism; Sulfur - metabolism; Thiodiglycol; Thiophenes - metabolism; Yperite; Yperite; Desulfurization; Benzothiophene; Thiodiglycol; Nocardioform; Biodegradation; Batchwise; Pollutant behavior; Bacteria; Petroleum
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.12.097

Microbial degradation of thiodiglycol (bis(2-hydroxyethyl)sulfide, TDG) with petroleum-desulfurizing soil bacteria was examined. Among the bacteria tested, several strains belonging to the genera
Rhodococcus and
Gordonia grew on TDG as the sole sulfur source. The selected strain
Rhodococcus sp. strain T09, which was re-identified as
R. jostii, showed TDG degradation activity only when grown in the presence of TDG as the sole sulfur source. Repeat batch degradation of TDG by using strain T09 could be continued for over 50
h, with a slight loss of activity.