Growth and Specific Desulfurization of a Newly Isolated Strain of Rhodococcus erythropolis

A newly isolated strain was identified as Rhodococcus erythropolis LSSE8-1, which can specifically remove sulfur from the model compound of dibenzothiophene (DBT) with 2-hydroxydiphenyl as the dead-end metabolic product. The optimal initial pH for growth varies from 6.5 to 7. Glycerol with the concentration of 8 g/L is the appropriate carbon source, and acetic ammonia at 2 g/L is suitable as nitrogen source for cell growth and desulfurization. It was found that R. erythropolis LSSE8-1 grew in the presence of sulfate or sulfur-containing amino acids but showed no desulfurization activity. Dimethylsulfoxide can enhance the cells yield and the activity of desulfurizing enzymes is not inhibited.