Biotransformation of chloromethane to methanethiol

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Environmental Science and Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00045a012· OSTI ID:6858706

Braus-Stromeyer, S A; Cook, A M; Leisinger, T ^[1]

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1. Institute of Microbiology, Zuerich (Switzerland)

Monochloromethane (MeCl) was biotransformed by a mixed culture of anaerobic bacteria which had been enriched to utilize dichloromethane as the sole source of carbon and energy. Cells grown in dichloromethane-salts medium catalyzed the transformation, whereas sucrose-grown cells were inactive. MeCl disappeared almost totally, and the methyl group was recovered in a yield of 80-90% as methanethiol and traces of dimethyl sulfide, whose identities were confirmed by GC-MS. The methyl transfer was heat-labile, and free aquocobalamin did not promote the reaction, which was apparently enzymically catalyzed. 37 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6858706
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States), Vol. 27:8; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
METHYL CHLORIDE
DECHLORINATION
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
DEHALOGENATION
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
400201* - Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
550700 - Microbiology