Biotransformation of tributyltin chloride in the presence of resting-cell suspensions of pure strains of microorganisms

Abstract

We describe the degradation of tributyltin chloride by several strains of fungi, yeasts and bacteria under resting-cell conditions in phosphate buffer, with low initial concentrations of substrate. Yields of biotic conversion of tributyltin ranging from 10 to 77% were observed after a five-day incubation at 28 °C. In most cases, dibutyltin and monobutyltin compounds and a fraction of volatile products were formed. Volatile tin compounds essentially included derivatives of monobutyltin and traces of other organomethyltins (mono-, di-, and tri-methyltins; di- and tri-butyltins), probably as the corresponding organostannanes. Compared with conditions in which the substrate was incubated with growing microorganisms, higher yields of degradation and substantial amounts of volatile products were obtained.