HYDROGEN-SULFIDE REMOVAL BY A DEODORANT B ACTERIUM BACILLUS SP. BN53-1

A heterotrophic bacterial strain BN53-1, capable of removing hydrogen sulfide, was isolated from a seed culture that had been used for the t reatment of feces of domestic animals. The taxonomic data of strain BN 53-1 showed that it belonged to the genus Bacillus. The organism exhib ited maximum hydrogen sulfide removal activity when incubated in a med ium containing 1.0% (w/v) glucose, and 0.1% (w/v) yeast extract. The s train could oxidize hydrogen sulfide and maintain this activity even i n a crude extract. The products of hydrogen sulfide oxidation were det ermined to be elemental sulfur and thiosulfate. When strain BN53-1 was used as a seed culture for the treatment of chicken feces, hydrogen s ulfide was deodorized within 24 h.