Citation:
F. Ansari, P. Prayuenyong, S. Tothill, Biodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene by
Shewanella putrefaciens NCIMB 8768, Journal of Biological Physics and Chemistry,
June 2007, Volume 7, Number 2, Pages 75-78
Abstract:
The desulfurization ability of Shewanella putrefaciens strain NCIMB 8768 was
studied and its activity profile was compared with the widely studied strain
Rhodococcus erythropolis strain IGTS8. Dibenzothiophene (DBT) is a recalcitrant
thiophenic component of fossil fuels especially among diesel blend stocks. DBT
in basic salt medium (BSM) at a final concentration of 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 mM was
supplied to the microbes as the sole sulfur source. Experimental results showed
that S. putrefaciens, similar to other biodesulfurization organisms, converted
DBT to the end product 2-hydroxybiphenyl (HBP), as detected by the Gibbs assay
and HPLC. Cells cultivated in medium containing 0.3 mM of DBT showed the highest
desulfurization activity, with a maximum specific production rate 43.5 mmol/L of
HBP.