Abstract

ACERO, Julia; BERDUGO, Claudia  and  MOGOLLON, Leonardo. BIODESULFURIZATION PROCESS EVALUATION WITH A Gordona rubropertinctus STRAIN. C.T.F Cienc. Tecnol. Futuro [online]. 2003, vol.2, n.4, pp.43-54. ISSN 0122-5383.

Direct combustion of fossil fuels produce sulfur oxides which are the main source of acid rain; therefore, most countries worldwide are regulating its release into the environment. As a consequence, several processes have been developed over the past years for desulfurization of crude oil and distillates. Due to its specificity, biodesulfurization is an interesting alternative for the transformation and upgrading of refined products, acting as a complement to traditional refining processes. This work presents an overview of Ecopetrol - Instituto Colombiano del Petróleo (ICP) efforts to develop a Biodesulfurization process, based on the activity of a native strain of Gordona rubropertinctus ICP172. Technical improvements on the isolation and characterization of desulfurizing microorganisms, the potential of developing new biocatalysts by means of directed evolution techniques, as well as the experience achieved during production of the biocatalyst in large-scale fermentation processes are hereby presented. The results of biodesulfurization reactions in conventional reactors and in a new membrane bioreactor prototype are also included. Finally, technological challenges faced by biodesulfurization processes are also discussed.

Keywords : biodesulfurization; non-aqueous biocatalysis; sulfur; SOx.

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