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Biodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene and gas oil using a bioreactor containing a catalytic bed with Rhodococcus rhodochrous immobilized on silica

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Abstract

Biodesulfurization (BDS) in a bioreactor packed with a catalytic bed of silica containing immobilized Rhodococcus rhodochrous was studied. Various bed lengths and support particle sizes were evaluated for BDS of dibenzothiophene (DBT) and gas oil. The sulfur-containing substrates were introduced separately into the bioreactor at different feed flows. Higher removal of sulfur from DBT and gas oil was achieved with a long bed, lower substrate flow, and larger sizes of immobilization particles. The packed bed bioreactor containing metabolic active cells was recycled and maintained BDS activity.

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Acknowledgment

The authors are grateful to the Chilean government for financial support from CONICYT through FONDECYT grant 1110724.

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Correspondence to J. Ojeda.

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Alejandro Dinamarca, M., Orellana, L., Aguirre, J. et al. Biodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene and gas oil using a bioreactor containing a catalytic bed with Rhodococcus rhodochrous immobilized on silica. Biotechnol Lett 36, 1649–1652 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-014-1529-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-014-1529-y

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