Biodegradation of thiophenic contaminants by the consortium isolated from Fars province

Today, soils and waters polluted by petroleum compounds are major environmental problems. A major part of the harmful effects of oil is due to thiophenic compounds such as dibenzothiophene and other sulfur derivatives, with increasing evidence of toxicity, carcinogenicity and their relative sustainability in nature. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of biodegradation of these pollutants by microorganisms that have spread over the years in the presence of gas oil. In order to study the feasibility of dibenzothiophene usage by isolated microbial consortia, firstly, appropriate growth medium with dibenzothiophene as the sole sulfur source was made and the biomass of the microorganisms was chased for 10 days. In order to estimate the metabolic degenerative pathway of this compound, 2-Hydroxybiphenyl was tracked in the selective consortium growth medium. Finally, the effect of the consortium on thiophene, 2-methylthiophene and thiophene-2-carboxylic acid was investigated, as well. Increasing biomass and eliminating dibenzothiophene in the presence of a microbial consortium and the absence of 2-Hydroxybiphenyl showed the consortium's ability to degrade this compound, but with a biochemical pathway other than 4S. The consortium was able to take thiophene and 2-methylthiophene, as well. The biodegradation activity and the scope of the substrates in comparison with conventional microorganisms suggest this consortium as a valuable biocatalyst for the decontamination of thiophenic contaminants