MICROORGANISM CAPABLE OF DEGRADING ALKYLATED HETEROCYCLIC SULFUR COMPOUND

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a new strain belonging to the genus Rhodococcus erythropolis, having the ability to efficiently degrade hard-to-decompose alkylated benzothiophenes and alkylated dibenzothiophenes, and useful for e.g. the desulfurization of fossil fuels such as petroleum. SOLUTION: This new strain, which belongs to the genus Rhodococcus erythropolis [e.g. Rhodococcus erythropolis KA2-5-1 strain (FERM P-16277)], has the ability to degrade hard-to-decompose alkylated benzothiphenes and/or alkylated dibenzothiophenes through selectively cleaving the C-S bonds thereof, and is useful for the desulfurization of the above compounds contained in fossil fuels such as petroleum. This new strain was obtained by screening the ability to degrade the above compounds using various kinds of soil as isolation source collected throughout Japan.