Differential desulfurization of dibenzothiophene by newly identified MTCC strains: Influence of Operon Array

Abstract

Since the sulfur specific cleavage is vital for the organic sulfur removal from fossil fuel, we explored potential bacterial strains of MTCC (Microbial Type Culture Collection) to desulfurize the Dibenzothiophene (DBT) through C-S bond cleavage (4-S pathway). MTCC strains Rhodococcus rhodochrous (3552), Arthrobacter sulfureus (3332), Gordonia rubropertincta (289), and Rhodococcus erythropolis (3951) capable of growing in 0.5 mM DBT were examined for their desulfurization ability. The presence of dsz genes as well as the metabolites was screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and HPLC, respectively. All these strains showed > 99% DBT desulfurization with 10 days of incubation in minimal salt medium. From the HPLC analysis it was further revealed that these MTCC strains show differences in the end metabolites and desulfurize DBT differently following a variation in the regular 4-S pathway. These findings are also well corroborating with their respective organization of dszABC operons and their relative abundance. The above MTCC strains are capable of desulfurizing DBT efficiently and hence can be explored for biodesulfurization of petrochemicals and coal with an eco-friendly and energy economical process.

Microbial Surfactants: The Next Generation Multifunctional Biomolecules for Applications in the Petroleum Industry and Its Associated Environmental Remediation

“…It entails the use of competent microorganisms to selectively remove sulphur from organosulphur hydrocarbons to complement HDS without degrading its carbon skeleton. Some of these organisms are Rhodococcus , Lysinibacillus , Pseudomonas , Sphingomonas , Bacillus , Gordonia, Acinetobacter , Arthrobacter, Mycobacterium , Klebsiella, Caldariomyces Paenibacillus , and Enterobacter [79,80,81]. The availability of these sulphur-aromatic compounds to the microorganisms is one of the most challenging factors in the biodesulphurization process.…”

Characterization and genomic analysis of Gordonia alkanivorans 135, a promising dibenzothiophene-degrading strain

“…HS126-4 N 95 % 2 0,2 mM [ 13 ] Gordonia alkanivorans 135 45 % 6 0,2 mM This study Gordonia sp. ZD-7 44 % 1 0.2 mM [ 34 ] Gordonia amicalis 6-1 98 % 15 0,1 mM [ 19 ] …”

“…The Gordonia strains are known to be capable of desulfurization of dibenzothiophene (DBT) with the formation of 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP), the final product of the 4S pathway [ [32] , [33] , [34] , [35] , 14 ]. In the works presented in Table 3 , the authors observed the maximum accumulation of this metabolite by the time of complete depletion of DBT in the system and entering the stationary growth phase by the culture.…”

“…The eluent flow rate was 1 mL/min, injection volume — 5 mkl. The analysis duration was 12 min; system stabilization took 5 min [ 24 ]. The aliquote of culture broth (5 mL) was brought to pH 2.2 with H 2 S0 4 (conc.)…”

Microbial Surfactants: The Next Generation Multifunctional Biomolecules for Diverse Applications

“…It entails the use of competent microorganisms to selectively remove sulphur from organosulphur hydrocarbons to complement HDS without degrading its carbon skeleton. Some of these organisms are Rhodococcus, Lysinibacillus, Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Bacillus, Gordonia, Acinetobacter, Arthrobacter, Mycobacterium, Klebsiella, Caldariomyces Paenibacillus, and Enterobacter [79][80][81]. The availability of these sulphur-aromatic compounds to the microorganisms is one of the most challenging factors in the biodesulphurisation process.…”