Analysis of the Anaerobic Microbial Community Capable of Degrading p -Toluene Sulfonate

Three strains of Clostridium sp., 14 (VKM B-2201), 42 (VKM B-2202), and 21 (VKM B-2279), two methanogens, Methanobacterium formicicum MH (VKM B-2198) and Methanosarcina mazei MM (VKM B-2199), and one sulfate-reducing bacterium, Desulfovibrio sp. SR1 (VKM B-2200), were isolated in pure cultures from an anaerobic microbial community capable of degrading p -toluene sulfonate. Strain 14 was able to degrade p -toluene sulfonate in the presence of yeast extract and bactotryptone and, like strain 42, to utilize p -toluene sulfonate as the sole sulfur source with the production of toluene. p -Toluene sulfonate stimulated the growth of Ms. mazei MM on acetate. The sulfate-reducing strain Desulfovibrio sp. SR1 utilized p -toluene sulfonate as an electron acceptor. The putative scheme of p -toluene sulfonate degradation by the anaerobic microbial community is discussed.