Microbial desulfurization of modeland straight-run diesel oils

✍ Scribed by Luo Mingfang; Gou Zhongxuan; Xing Jianmin; Liu Huizhou; Chen Jiayong

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 100 KB
• Volume: 78
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0268-2575
• DOI: 10.1002/jctb.862

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The desulfurization kinetics of Nocardia globerula R‐9 was investigated initially in a model system consisting of dibenzothiophene (DBT) dissolved in dodecane. The ability to desulfurize straight‐run diesel oil by resting cells of this strain was also evaluated. The course of desulfurization of DBT in dodecane could be represented by the Michaelis–Menten equation. The desulfurization of DBT and 4,6‐dimethyl dibenzothiophene (4,6‐DMDBT) in a mixture of the two proceeded simultaneously without preference for either of them. The sulfur content of the straight‐run diesel oil could be reduced from 1807 to 741 mg dm^−3^ by treatment with resting cells of this strain, at a mean rate of 5.1 mmol sulfur kg^−1^ h^−1^. This showed that Nocardia globerula R‐9 could be a potential bacterium for reducing the sulfur content of petroleum products. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry