Streamlining the biodesulfurization process: development of an integrated continuous system prototype using Gordonia...

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology and Industrial Microbiology
• Environmental Engineering
• Petroleum Refining

Background:

• Biodesulfurization offers a cleaner alternative to conventional fuel desulfurization.
• Existing biodesulfurization methods face scalability challenges due to batch processing and complex biocatalyst handling.
• A continuous, integrated system is needed for efficient industrial application in refining processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop the first bench-scale continuous biodesulfurization system.
• To integrate biocatalyst production, biodesulfurization, and fuel separation into a single continuous process.
• To overcome bottlenecks in current biodesulfurization technologies and facilitate scale-up.

Main Methods:

• Optimized continuous culture of *Gordonia alkanivorans* strain 1B to enhance biocatalyst production.
• Developed and evaluated an integrated continuous system using model fuels (dibenzothiophene in *n*-heptane).
• Tested the system with recalcitrant model fuels and real-world samples (pyrolysis oil, crude oils).

Main Results:

• Achieved a biodesulfurization rate of 21 μmol h^-1 g^-1 with *Gordonia alkanivorans* strain 1B.
• Demonstrated 72% desulfurization of a complex model fuel through repeated cycles.
• Showcased increased desulfurization activity with real fuels, including pyrolysis oil and crude oils.

Conclusions:

• The developed continuous biodesulfurization system effectively integrates key process steps, mitigating bottlenecks.
• The system demonstrates significant potential for scaling up biodesulfurization for industrial applications.
• This technology contributes to the development of biodesulfurization biorefineries for sustainable energy production.