Microbial degradation of bis(tributyltin) oxide

The degradation of the biocide bis (tributyltin) oxide by pur cultures of microorganisms has been studied. Attempts to isolate microorganisms able to utilize bis (tributyltin) oxide as sole carbon source, were unsuccessful. Of many bacterial species investigated $\text{Pseudomonas aeruginosa}$ and $\text{Alcaligenes faecalis}$ degraded sublethal amounts of bis (tributyltin) oxide during aerobic growth in the presence of suitable carbon sources. $\text{P. aeruginosa}$ converted bis (tributyltin) oxide into monobutyltin and small amounts of dibutyltin derivatives. Similar results were obtained with growing mycelium of $\text{Coniophora puteana}$, $\text{Trametes versicolor}$ and $\text{Chaetomium globosum}$. Microbial conversion of monobutyltin trichloride was not observed. Dibutyltin dichloride was converted into monobutyltin derivatives under certain sterile conditions.