Methanotrophs were isolated from a hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-rich anaerobic digester.
One isolate, Methylocaldum gracile SAD2, can grow at 1000 ppm H2S in the headspace.
Strain SAD2 showed greater H2S tolerance than two commonly studied methanotrophs.
Strain SAD2 produced 275 mg/L methanol in the presence of 500 ppm H2S.
This is the first reported methanotroph that converts H2S-rich biogas to methanol.