Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is one of the most important volatile organic sulfur compounds. Due to its malodorous smell and the extremely low odor threshold

DMS has become a critical issue in wastewater collection and treatment systems. In this study

a novel strain JLM-8

with capability of degrading DMS as sole carbon and sulfur source

was isolated from the active sludge of a pharmaceutical plant. Based on the morphological

physiological and biochemical properties as well as its 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis

the strain JLM-8 was identified as a member of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The strain could degrade approximately 100% of 50 mg·L-1 DMS within 8 hours at pH 7 and 30℃. Response surface methodology (RSM) analysis showed that the optimum conditions for degradation were at pH 7.5 and 31.3℃

using an inoculum amount of 25 mg·L-1. Under these conditions

approximately 97.9% of DMS was degraded. The kinetic parameters qmax

Ks

and Ki were established to be 2.37 h-1

143.55 mg·L-1

51.35 mg·L-1

respectively. The critical inhibitor concentration was determined to be 78.46 mg·L-1. Research on the characterization of DMS degradable bacteria can provide a new theoretical and technical fundamental basis for bioremediation of DMS-contaminated environments.