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Kinetic analysis of biodesulfurization of model oil containing multiple alkyl dibenzothiophenes

  • Environmental biotechnology
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Abstract

Biodesulfurization is regarded as a promising alternative technology for desulfurization from diesel oil due to its mild operating conditions and its ability to remove sulfur from alky dibenzothiophenes (Cx-DBTs). The diesel oil contains complex mixtures of Cx-DBTs in which individual microbial biodesulfurization may be altered. In this work, interactions among three typical Cx-DBTs such as dibenzothiophenes (DBT), 4-methyldibenzothiophene (4-MDBT), and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) were investigated using Mycobacterium sp. ZD-19 in an airlift reactor. The experimental results indicated that the desulfurization rates would decrease in the multiple Cx-DBTs system compared to the single Cx-DBT system. The extent of inhibition depended upon the substrate numbers, concentrations, and affinities of the co-existing substrates. For example, compared to individual desulfurization rate (100 %), DBT desulfurization rate decreased to 75.2 % (DBT + 4,6-DMDBT), 64.8 % (DBT + 4-MDBT), and 54.7 % (DBT + 4,6-DMDBT + 4-MDBT), respectively. This phenomenon was caused by an apparent competitive inhibition of substrates, which was well predicted by a Michaelis–Menten competitive inhibition model.

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Acknowledgments

This research work was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 20276068).

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  1. Institute of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Shi-Han Zhang, Han Chen & Wei Li

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  1. Shi-Han Zhang
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  2. Han Chen
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  3. Wei Li
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Correspondence to Wei Li.

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Zhang, SH., Chen, H. & Li, W. Kinetic analysis of biodesulfurization of model oil containing multiple alkyl dibenzothiophenes. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 97, 2193–2200 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-012-4048-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-012-4048-6

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