Isolation and Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds-Degrading Bacillus Strains from Loess

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are harmful to human health and the environment. Recently, loess (Hwangtoh) was used as an eco-friendly interior paint formulation in Korea. It is used even more commonly as a filter carrier to remove VOCs. In this study, we isolated Bacillus strains from a loess filter. The strains that were tolerant to VOCs were labeled according to the series VOC01 to VOC35. Four strains—VOC03, VOC11, VOC18, and VOC30—were investigated for their ability to degrade cyclohexane and toluene. Strain VOC18 best degraded both VOCs, whereas VOC03 demonstrated no ability to degrade VOCs. In keeping with this, VOC18 grew best on cyclohexane or toluene as the sole carbon source. The strains were identified by their physiochemical and phylogenetic characteristics. Strain VOC18 was determined as a strain of Bacillus cereus; VOC11 and VOC30 were determined as differentiated strains of B. thuringiensis. Strain VOC03, which demonstrated high tolerance but no ability to degrade VOCs, was identified as a strain of B. megaterium.