BIOCATALYTIC DETOXIFICATION OF 2-CHLOROETHYL ETHYL SULFIDE

Rhodococcus rhodochrous IGTS8 (ATCC 53968) was shown to be capable of utilizing 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulphide (GEES) as the sole source of su lphur for microbial growth. 2-chloroethanol and a compound tentatively identified as 2-chloroethanesulfinic acid have been detected as metab olites. This demonstrates that carbon-sulphur bonds were cleaved in GE ES prior to hydrolysis of the chlorine atom. These data indicate that Rhodococcus rhodochrous IGTS8 may be useful for the biodetoxification of the chemical warfare agent mustard (2,2' dichlorodiethyl sulphide).