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Isolation and characterization of sulphur‐oxidizing Thiomonas sp. and its potential application in biological deodorization
Author(s) -
Chen X.G.,
Geng A.L.,
Yan R.,
Gould W.D.,
Ng Y.L.,
Liang D.T.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2004.01615.x
Subject(s) - strain (injury) , sulfur , oxidizing agent , enrichment culture , autotroph , bacteria , respirometer , chemistry , food science , energy source , oxygen , biology , environmental chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , organic chemistry , genetics , anatomy , renewable energy
Abstract Aims: To isolate and characterize a sulphur‐oxidizing bacterial strain from activated sludge and to evaluate its potential application in biological deodorization. Methods and Results: A dominant sulphur‐oxidizing bacterial strain, designated as strain SS, was isolated from an enrichment culture using thiosulphate as a sole energy source and CO 2 as a sole carbon source. The cells of this organism were aerobic, rod‐shaped, Gram‐negative and motile. Strain SS could grow autotrophically, heterotrophically as well as mixotrophically. Autotrophic growth was observed at pH values ranging from 2·3 to 9·0. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that strain SS belonged to Group 1 of the genus Thiomonas , closely related to Thiomonas perometabolis and Thiomonas intermedia . The thiosulphate oxidation rates of strain SS at different pH values were evaluated in terms of oxygen uptake using a Micro‐Oxymax respirometer. The results showed that the maximum oxidation rate of 5·65 mg l −1 h −1 occurred at 56 h of growth and pH 6·0. Continuous H 2 S removal study demonstrated that strain SS could remove more than 99% of H 2 S when the inlet concentration was below 58·6 ppm. Further increase of the inlet concentration to 118 ppm gave rise to a decline in the removal efficiency to ca 90%. Conclusions: The strong acidification of the culture medium during the later period could result in the deterioration of the growth activity and the metabolism activity of strain SS. In practical application, the problems caused by the end‐product inhibition and the acidification can be alleviated by periodical replacement of culture medium with fresh medium. Given the physiological flexibility and the ability to remove H 2 S rapidly and efficiently, strain SS could be a good ‘deodorizing’ candidate. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first time that Thiomonas species has been reported for biological deodorization application.