Desulphurization of dibenzothiophene by different bacteria: A case study on model compound

Abstract Bacterial strains are successfully employed to desulfurize dibenzothiophene which may be determined by chromatography, HPLC and GC-Mass spectrometry. Strains of Ralstonia sp ., Pseudoxanthomons sp. and Rhodococcus sp. were used in the present investigation. Only Rhodococcus sp. was able to convert dibenzothiophene (DBT) into 2-hydroxy biphenyl (2-HBP). Gibb’s assay blue colour indicates the conversion of DBT into 2-HBP and brown colour indicates complete consumption of DBT by bacteria. After two days of bacterial treatment, there was no further removal of DBT. Conversion of DBT into 2-HBP was monitored through HPLC for six days of entire experiment.