Isolation and characterization of Xanthobacter polyaromaticivorans sp nov 127W that degrades polycyclic and heterocyclic aromatic compounds under extremely low oxygen conditions

Two bacterial strains, 127W and T102, were isolated from anoxic crude oil tank sludge as effective degraders of dibenzothiophene (DBT), a model sulfur containing heterocyclic aromatic compound in crude oil. Strain 127W was more tolerant to oxygen limitation than T102 and was capable of degrading two- and three-ring polycyclic and heterocyclic aromatic compounds under both aerobic and low oxygen conditions. Strain 127W degraded 0.082, 0.055, and 0.064 mm of DBT, naphthalene, and anthracene, respectively, in one week with dissolved oxygen