Abstract ▼ AI-Helper

Rhodococcus rhodochrous IGTSS (ATCC 5396S) can break organo sulfur compounds such as dibenzothiophene. Since the environment for biodesulfurization process is invariably hydrophobic, parameters in hydrophobic systems should be examined. For the model oil, hexadecane-containing 5.43mM dibenzothiophen...

Rhodococcus rhodochrous IGTSS (ATCC 5396S) can break organo sulfur compounds such as dibenzothiophene. Since the environment for biodesulfurization process is invariably hydrophobic, parameters in hydrophobic systems should be examined. For the model oil, hexadecane-containing 5.43mM dibenzothiophene, the volumetric desulfurization rate was decreased with the oil-to-aqueous phase ratio up to 50%. The rate declined sharply after 48h because the cell activity, which is refreshed by medium exchange, was lost. To supply the exhausted nutrients, medium exchange was performed. At 30% oil phase, most of DBT was removed by medium exchange on 48h, and the rate was 2.03mg $DBT_{removed}/L_{dispersion}-hr.$ At 50% oil phase, medium exchange on 60h was performed and the rate was 1.79mg $DBT_{removed}/L_{dispersion}-hr.$ The 300mL flask system was scaled up to a 5-L bioreactor system. On 60 h, a medium exchange was performed and the rate was 5.28mg $DBT_{removed}/L_{dispersion}-hr.$ and all of DBT was removed. It means that we can use the biodesulfurization process even 10 the high oil-to-water phase by some appropriate methods such as controlled feeding of key nutrients and the dilution or removal of some toxic metabolites by continuous reactor.