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Published on: October 15, 2015
Microbial desulfurization of dibenzothiophene: a sulfur-specific pathway
J R Gallagher1, E S Olson, D C Stanley
1Energy and Environmental Research Center, University Station University of North Dakota, Grand Forks 58202.
Abstract:
Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain IGTS8 metabolizes dibenzothiophene, a model compound for organic sulfur in fossil fuels, in a sulfur-specific manner. Two routes of desulfurization have been identified. Under growth conditions, the intermediates are dibenzothiophene sulfoxide, dibenzothiophene sulfone, 2'-hydroxybiphenyl-2-sulfonate, and 2,2'-dihydroxybiphenyl. Stationary phase cells produce 2-hydroxybiphenyl as the desulfurized product and use the 2'-hydroxybiphenyl-2-sulfinate, rather than the sulfonate, as the key intermediate.
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