title: Effect of electrokinetics on biodesulfurization of the model oil by Rhodococcus erythropolis PTCC1767 and Bacillus subtilis DSMZ 3256.
abstract: Biodesulfurization of the model oil using Rhodococcus erythropolis PTCC1767 (R. erythropolis) and Bacillus subtilis DSMZ 3256 (B. subtilis) strains assisted by applying electrokinetic was investigated as a novel method for desulfurization. The yield of biodesulfurization is low because it takes long time to be completed. Electrokinetic reduces the process time and accelerates degradation of the sulfur compounds. A mixture of normal hexadecane with 10mM dibenzotiophene (DBT) was employed as the model oil. The biodesulfurization experiments were initially performed. The results represented 34% and 62% DBT conversions after 1 and 6 days by R. erythropolis and the biodesulfurization yields were 11% and 36%, respectively. However, the DBT conversions for B. subtilis strain after 1 and 6 days were 31% and 55% and the biodesulfurization yields were 9% and 31%, respectively. The electrokinetic biodesulfurization experiments were studied at different current densities and the optimum current density was selected. According to the results, DBT conversion and biodesulfurization yield for R. erythropolis after 3 days were 76% and 39%, respectively, at the current density of 7.5 mA/cm(2). At the same conditions, the DBT conversion and biodesulfurization yield for B. subtilis were 71% and 37%, respectively. The experimental results indicate that the electrokinetic significantly reduces the biodesulfurization time. The combination of electrokinetic and biodesulfurization has the potential to obtain 'zero sulfur' products.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Research Center of Iran, P.O. Box 14335-186, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boshagh
authors.affiliation: Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Research Center of Iran, P.O. Box 14335-186, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: mokhtaranib@ccerci.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mokhtarani
authors.affiliation: Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Research Center of Iran, P.O. Box 14335-186, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Mortaheb
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004566:Electrodes; D010578:Petroleum / Q000378:metabolism*; D012240:Rhodococcus / Q000378:metabolism*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010578:Petroleum; D013455:Sulfur
keywords: Bacillus subtilis; Biodesulfurization; Electrokinetics; Rhodococcus erythropolis