International Science Community Association Research Journal of Chemical Sciences 2231 - 606X 7 5 2017 05 18 Biodegradation of MTBX by new bacterial isolate B. sphaericus 11 22 EN Haware Devendra J. 1 Food safety and Analytical Quality Control Laboratory, CSIR-CFTRI, Mysuru, India Kumar Ravi 2 Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India D.S. Ramteke 3 EIRA Division, CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur, India Inam Farin 4 Department of Chemistry, Institute of Science, Nagpur, India Audi Deepa M. 1 Dhempe College of Arts and Science, Miramar, Panaji, Goa-403 001, India Saxena Reena 1 Department of Nanotechnology, Dr. K.N. Modi University, Newai, Rajasthan, India . Rahul 2 Chemical Engineering Department, Lakshmi Narain College of Technology, Bhopal, MP, India > Research Paper 2017 4 2 2017 05 18 In the present study, a bacterial strain was isolated from biofilter which is able to utilize MTBX as a main source of carbon. With the help of biochemical test, this organism was identified as Bacillus sphaericus. This organism which was named B. sphaericus and capable to degrade MTBX quite effectively for the initial concentration 100, 200, 500 and 1000 mg L-1 in a liquid medium. The capability of B. sphaericus to degrade MTBX in 500 mg L-1 completely within the duration of 140 h. During the degradation of MTBX temperature was maintained from 15 to 450 C but the optimum range was 25 to 350 C. Ranges of pH value was kept 3 to 11 with an optimum range of 6 to 8 for the cultivation of isolates. The maximum degradation by B. sphaericus was found for n-butyl acetate with 99.99% for 500 mg L-1. On the basis of results obtained in present study, B. sphaericus can be used effectively as an inoculum in a biofilter. for the treatment of MTBX. Copyright@ International Science Community Association