Isolation and identification of nondestructive desulfurization bacterium

A nondestructive desulfurization microorganism has been isolated. The metabolism product analyses show that the strain can be a kind of biocatalyst to oxidize dibenzothlophene (DBT) into 2-hydroxydiphenyl (HBP), therefore the sulfur in DBT is removed selectively. The 16SrRNA information, cell wall analysis, physical, biochemical properties and morphological properties suggest that the isolated strain is Rhodococcus etythropolis. The strain can grow in the basal salts medium (BSM) that DBT concentration is no more than 10 mmol/L, and the optimal DBT concentration for growth is 1 mmol/L, however, the optimal DBT concentration for desulfurization is 0.5 mmol/L. The further research shows that the strain can also desulfur some other organosulfur-containing compounds such as thianaphthene, phenyl sulfide and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT).