General Information: Methylibium petroleiphilum strain PM1 (ATCC BAA-1232) was isolated in 1998 from the biofilter of a treatment plant in an oil refinery in Los Angeles, California, USA. Strain PM1 is capable of degrading aromatic compounds such as benzene, toluene and xylenes. Methyl tertiary-butyl ether-degrading bacterium. Methylibium petroleiphilum is a methylotroph (able to utilize reduced one-carbon compounds) able to degrade methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) under aerobic conditions. MTBE is a gasoline additive used as an oxygenate and to raise the octane number.