Biotechnology Letters, Vol.36, No.8, 1649-1652, 2014
Biodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene and gas oil using a bioreactor containing a catalytic bed with Rhodococcus rhodochrous immobilized on silica
Biodesulfurization (BDS) in a bioreactor packed with a catalytic bed of silica containing immobilized Rhodococcus rhodochrous was studied. Various bed lengths and support particle sizes were evaluated for BDS of dibenzothiophene (DBT) and gas oil. The sulfur-containing substrates were introduced separately into the bioreactor at different feed flows. Higher removal of sulfur from DBT and gas oil was achieved with a long bed, lower substrate flow, and larger sizes of immobilization particles. The packed bed bioreactor containing metabolic active cells was recycled and maintained BDS activity.
Keywords:Biodesulfurization;Cell immobilization;Inorganic support;Operational variables;Packed bed bioreactor;Rhodococcus rhodochrous