DEGRADATION OF CARBONDISULPHIDE BY A THIOBACILLUS ISOLATE

During experiments investigating the purification of waste gas a bacterium capable of using carbon disulphide (CS2) als sole energy source was isolated. It could be identified as a Thiobacillus sp.; however, the species remains unclear. Both the properties of T. thioparus and T. thiooxidans have been observed. Since the organism could be used for removing CS2 in the environment, the degradation kinetics have been investigated by different methods. Substrate concentrations of UP to 100 Mg CS2.l-1 were oxidized at maximum rates of 2.5 mg CS2.g-1 protein . min-1 at pH 7.0 and at 30-degrees-C. CS2 levels above 150 Mg CS2.l-1 caused termination of degradative activity.