Isolation and characteristics of 2-hydroxybenzothiazole-degrading bacteria

Several strains capable of growth on 2-oxybenzothiazole (OBT) were isolated. They were all Gram-positive, spore-forming rods, tentatively identified as Bacillus species. Their mean generation time on OBT was 12 h with a cell yield coefficient of 0.63. The strains could also degrade benzothiazole but not 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) or its sulphonate form. MBT was inhibitory. The biodegradation was inhibited by a 5% NaCl concentration.