H. Dewever et H. Verachtert, 2-MERCAPTOBENZOTHIAZOLE DEGRADATION IN LABORATORY FED-BATCH SYSTEMS, Applied microbiology and biotechnology, 42(4), 1994, pp. 623-630
Rubber additives manufacture yields wastewaters with recalcitrant and/
or toxic benzothiazole compounds. Biodegradation of such compounds was
investigated in fed-batch systems. 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) was
best degraded by a mixture of MBT-history and non-MBT-history sludge.
Concentrations up to 200 mg.l(-1) were removed. From 100 mg.l(-1) onwa
rds, high percentages of the recalcitrant disulphide were accumulated
in the sludge. MBT slowed down the biodegradation of benzothiazole-2-s
ulphonate. MBT and benzothiazole did not mutually influence their degr
adation. Under some experimental conditions high levels of unidentifie
d so-called polar compounds were formed.