Anaerobic transformation of furfural by Methanococcus deltae Delta LH

Methanococcus deltae Delta LN was grown on H-2-CO2 in the presence of various concentrations of furfural, Furfural at higher concentrations, namely, 20 and 25 mM, inhibited growth of this organism, At concentration of 5 and 10 mM, no inhibition of growth was observed, The other methanogens in this study were not inhibited by 10 mM furfural. Among the methanogens tested, M. deltae was capable of transforming furfural, whereas Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum Marburg, Methanosarcina barkeri 227, Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus, and Methanobrevibacter ruminatium lacked this capability. One hundred per cent removal of furfural was observed within 48 h of incubation in M. deltae cultures, The end product observed during furfural metabolism was furfuryl alcohol, An almost stoichiometric amount of furfuryl alcohol was produced by M. deltae, This transformation is likely to be of value in the detoxification of furfural and in its ultimate conversion to methane and CO2 by anaerobic digestion.