Enhanced Dibenzothiophene Biodesulfurization by Immobilized Cells of Brevibacterium lutescens in n-Octane–Water Biphasic System

In this study, it was the first report that the Brevibacterium lutescens CCZU12-1 was employed as a sulfur removing bacteria. Using dibenzothiophene (DBT) as the sole sulfur source, B. lutescens could selectively degrade DBT into 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP) via the “4S” pathway. In the basal salt medium (BSM) supplemented with 0.25 mM DBT and 0.5 g/L Tween-80, high desulfurization rate (100 %) was obtained by growth cells after 60 h. Furthermore, the n-octane–water (10:90, v/v) biphasic system was built for the biodesulfurization by resting cells. Moreover, a combination of magnetic nano Fe₃O₄ particles with calcium alginate immobilization was used for enhancing biodesulfurization. In this n-octane–water biphasic system, immobilized B. lutescens cells could be reused for not less than four times. Therefore, B. lutescens CCZU12-1 shows high potential in the biodesulfurization.     

Desulfurization of dibenzothiophene, benzothiophene, and other thiophene analogs by a newly isolated bacterium, Gordonia alkanivorans strain 1B

A novel bacterium, Gordonia alkanivorans strain 1B, was isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. Assessment of the biodegradation of distinct organic sulfur-compounds, such as dibenzothiophene (DBT), benzothiophene (BT), DBT sulfone, and alkylated tiophenic compounds, as the sole source of sulfure was investigated. G. alkanivorans strain 1B was able to remove selectively the sulfur from DBT while keeping intact the remaining carbon-carbon structure. Orthophenyl phenol (2-hydroxybiphenyl) was the only detected metabolic product. The bacterial desulfurization activity was repressed by sulfate. G. alkanivorans straini 1B consumed 310 μM DBT after 120 h of cultivation, corresponding to a specific desulfurization rate of 1.03 μmol/(g of dry cells·h). When an equimolar mixture of DBT/BT was used as a source of sulfur in the growth medium, G. alkanivorans strain 1B assimilated both compounds in a sequential manner, with BT as the preferred source of sulfur. Only when BT concentration was decreased to a very low level was DBT utilized as the source of sulfur for bacterial growth. Thespecific desulfurization overall rates of BT and DBT obtained were 0.954 and 0.813 μmol/(g of dry cells·h), respectively. The newly isolated G. alkanivorans strain 1B has good potential for application in the biodesulfurization of fossil fuels.     

Biodesulfurization of a System Containing Synthetic Fuel Using Rhodococcus erythropolis ATCC 4277

The burning of fossil fuels has released a large quantity of pollutants into the atmosphere. In this context, sulfur dioxide is one of the most noxious gas which, on reacting with moist air, is transformed into sulfuric acid, causing the acid rain. In response, many countries have reformulated their legislation in order to enforce the commercialization of fuels with very low sulfur levels. The existing desulfurization processes cannot remove such low levels of sulfur and thus a biodesulfurization has been developed, where the degradation of sulfur occurs through the action of microorganisms. Rhodococcus erythropolis has been identified as one of the most promising bacteria for use in the biodesulfurization. In this study, the effectiveness of the strain R. erythropolis ATCC 4277 in the desulfurization of dibenzothiophene (DBT) was evaluated in a batch reactor using an organic phase (n-dodecane or diesel) concentrations of 20, 80, and 100 % (v/v). This strain was able to degrade 93.3, 98.0, and 95.5 % of the DBT in the presence of 20, 80, and 100 % (v/v) of dodecane, respectively. The highest value for the specific DBT degradation rate was 44?mmol DBT?·?kg DCW^?1?·?h^?1, attained in the reactor containing 80 % (v/v) of n-dodecane as the organic phase.     

Sulfur-Selective Desulfurization of Dibenzothiophene and Diesel Oil by Newly Isolated Rhodococcus erythropolis NCC-1

A dibenzothiophene （DBT）-desulfurizing bacteria strain was isolated from oil-contaminated soils and identified as Rhodococcus erythropolis NCC-1. Strain NCC-1 was found to convert DBT to hydroxybiphenyl （2-HBP） via the 4S pathway and also be able to use organic sulfur compounds other than DBT as a sole sulfur source. The strain could desulfurize 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene （4,6-DMDBT）, which is one of the most recalcitrant dibenzothiophene derivatives to hydrodesulfurization. When two type of oils, a model oil [n-hexadecane （n-C16） containing DBT] and a hydrodesulfurized diesel oil with various organic sulfur compounds, were treated with Rhodococcus erythropolis NCC-1 cells, the total sulfur content significantly decreased, from 150 to 20 mg/L for n-C16 and from 554 to 274 mg/L for diesel oil. The newly isolated strain NCC-1 is considered to have good potential for application in the biodesulfurization of fossil fuels.     

MoO3/介孔Al2O3催化氧化脱除模拟油中的硫

以环己烷为溶剂,二苯并噻吩（DBT）、苯并噻吩（BT）、4,6-二甲基二苯并噻吩（4,6-DMDBT）、噻吩（Th）作为模型含硫化合物配制成模拟油,在MoO3/介孔Al2O3-H2O2体系中对模拟油催化氧化脱硫进行了研究. 考察了MoO3负载量、氧化剂用量、催化剂用量、氧化反应温度及反应时间对DBT脱除效果的影响. 实验结果表明：在MoO3负载量为20%,催化剂用量为1.5%,氧化剂H2O2与模拟油中硫的摩尔比为4,反应温度为60℃,反应时间为40分钟时DBT脱除率最高,达99.4%,几乎可以被完全脱除;在此条件下模型化合物的氧化反应活性顺序为：DBT > 4,6-DMDBT >BT>Th.     

Enhancement of Dibenzothiophene Desulfurization by Gordonia alkanivorans Strain 1B Using Sugar Beet Molasses as Alternative Carbon Source

There are several problems limiting an industrial application of fossil fuel biodesulfurization, and one of them is the cost of culture media used to grow the microorganisms involved in the process. In this context, the utilization of alternative carbon sources resulting from agro-industrial by-products could be a strategy to reduce the investment in the operating expenses of a future industrial application. Recently, Gordonia alkanivorans 1B was described as a fructophilic desulfurizing bacterium, and this characteristic opens a new interest in alternative carbon sources rich in fructose. Thus, the goal of this study was to evaluate the utilization of sugar beet molasses (SBM) in the dibenzothiophene (DBT) desulfurization process using strain 1B. SBM firstly treated with 0.25 % BaCl₂ (w/v) was used after sucrose acidic hydrolysis or in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process with a Zygosaccharomyces bailii Talf1 invertase (1 %), showing promising results. In optimal conditions, strain 1B presented a μ _max of 0.0795 h^?1, and all DBT was converted to 2-hydroxybiphenyl (250 μM) within 48 h with a maximum production rate of 7.78 μM h^?1. Our results showed the high potential of SBM to be used in a future industrial fossil fuel biodesulfurization process using strain 1B.     

酸性离子液体萃取/催化二苯并噻吩氧化脱硫反应的优化

ö以Brönsted酸性离子液体N-甲基-2-吡咯烷酮磷酸二氢盐(\[Hnmp\]H₂PO₄)为萃取剂和催化剂,双氧水为氧化剂,二苯并噻吩(DBT)溶于正辛烷为模型油,利用正交实验法优化了DBT氧化脱硫反应工艺。所优化的反应条件为：反应温度60℃,模型油与离子液体体积比为1∶1,氧/硫摩尔比为16, 氧化时间5h;在此条件下模型油脱硫率达99.8%,实际柴油脱硫率为64.3%。由正交实验极差可知,各因素对DBT脱硫率影响的大小依次为：反应温度＞反应时间＞氧/硫摩尔比＞剂油比;离子液体循环利用6次,脱硫率下降不明显。     

Influence of the Carbon Source on Gordonia alkanivorans Strain 1B Resistance to 2-Hydroxybiphenyl Toxicity

The viability of bacteria plays a critical role in the enhancement of fossil fuels biodesulfurization efficiency since cells are exposed to toxic compounds such as 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP), the end product of dibenzothiophene (DBT) biodesulfurization. The goal of this work was to study the influence of the carbon source on the resistance of Gordonia alkanivorans strain 1B to 2-HBP. The physiological response of this bacterium, pre-grown in glucose or fructose, to 2-HBP was evaluated using two approaches: a growth inhibition toxicity test and flow cytometry. The results obtained from the growth inhibition bioassays showed that the carbon source has an influence on the sensitivity of strain 1B growing cells to 2-HBP. The highest IC₅₀ value was obtained for the assay using fructose as carbon source in both inoculum growth and test medium (IC₅₀-48 h?=?0.464 mM). Relatively to the evaluation of 2-HBP effect on the physiological state of resting cells by flow cytometry, the results showed that concentrations of 2-HBP >1 mM generated significant loss of cell viability. The higher the 2-HBP concentration, the higher the toxicity effect on cells and the faster the loss of cell viability. In overall, the flow cytometry results highlighted that strain 1B resting cells grown in glucose-SO₄ or glucose-DBT are physiologically less resistant to 2-HBP than resting cells grown in fructose-SO₄ or fructose-DBT, respectively.     

Extractive desulfurization of fuel oil with metal-based ionic liquids

Several metal-based ionic liquids (ILs) were synthesized and used as extractants for the desulfurization of dibenzothiophene (DBT) in simulated fuel oil. The effects of several anion and metal ions, n(ILs)/n(metal) as mole ratio, V_IL/V_oil and extractive times on the removal ratio of DBT were investigated in detail. The results showed that [BMIM]HSO₄/FeCl₃(BMIM was short for 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazole) was superior to the other ILs for the extractive desulfurization. A total of 100% of DBT was removed at room temperature in 5 min with V_[BMIM]HSO₄=FeCl₃=V_oil=1:1. The extractive activity of [BMIM]HSO₄/FeCl₃ IL did not change almost after five runs. Extractive desulfurization of different sulfur compounds and commercial diesel fuel oil were also examined. The removal ratios of the sulfur compounds as the reaction substrates were all over 90% and the sulfur content of commercial diesel oil decreased to 120 ppm from 12,400 ppm.     

Deep desulfurization of diesel by selective oxidation using amphiphilic paradodecatungstate catalyst

An amphiphilic paradodecatungstate catalyst, [(C₁₈H₃₇)₂N(CH₃)₂]₉[NaH₂W₁₂O₄₂] was prepared and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV–visible spectrum, differential thermal analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. The amphiphilic catalyst exhibits very high catalytic activity that dibenzothiophene (DBT) in model diesel can be oxidized into dibenzothiophene sulfones using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. The reactivity of sulfur compounds decreased in the order of DBT > 4,6-DMDBT > BT > 5-MBT. The reaction rates of these sulfur compounds are sensitive to the electron density on sulfur atoms and the steric hindrance of the substituted groups of sulfur compounds. The sulfur level of a commercial diesel after desulfurization can drop from 200 ppm to about 12 ppm.     

Efficient Extractive Desulfurization of Fuel Oils Using N‐Pyrrolidone/Alkylphosphate‐Based Ionic Liquids

Four BrØsted acid ionic liquids (ILS) [MMP][DMP], [MEP][DEP], [HMP][DMP] and [HEP][DEP] were synthesized and used as extractants for desulfurization of aromatic sulfur compounds in model oil. The mutual solubility of four ILs were investigated. The extraction equilibrium of four ILs could be reached in as soon as 5 min and the extraction capability followed the order [MMP][DMP]>[MEP][DEP]>[HEP][DEP]>[HMP][DMP]. The S extraction showed the highest efficiency under the conditions of 30°C, 30 min and 1:1 (V/V) IL:oil. Under the optimal condition, 70.9% of thiophene (TS), 76.9% of benzothiophene (BT) and 87.5% of dibenzothiophene (DBT) in n‐octane could be efficiently removed by [MMP][DMP]. The multiple extraction and regeneration performance of [MMP][DMP] for TS was also investigated and the results were satisfying. These results suggest that [MMP][DMP] has the best extraction capability and can serve as a promising solvent for extractive desulfurization of fuel oils.     

模拟轻质油品的氧化脱硫

以正庚烷为溶剂，苯并噻吩（BT）、二苯并噻吩（DBT）、4,6-二甲基二苯并噻吩（4,6-DMDBT）作为模型含硫化合物组成模拟轻质油品，在H2O2-HCOOH氧化体系中对模拟轻质油品氧化脱硫进行了研究。考察了氧化剂用量、氧化温度、氧化时间及芳烃、烯烃、含氮化合物的存在等因素对BT、DBT脱除的影响。实验结果表明：在反应温度60 ℃，H2O2∶S＝7∶1（mol/mol）,H2O2∶HCOOH＝1∶1（v/v）,反应时间在40 min的条件下，4,6-DMDBT能全部脱除, DBT、BT的脱除率分别为96% 、58%。向油品中添加芳烃、烯烃、含氮化合物等对BT、DBT的脱除均有不同程度的影响。     

功能化含钨介孔硅材料的直接合成表征及其在多相氧化脱硫中的应用

温和条件下,燃油深度脱硫一直是非常重要的研究课题.目前,加氢脱硫(HDS)是石油工业上广泛采用的脱硫技术,它能够有效脱除燃油中的硫醚、硫醇和等无机硫化物,但对于芳香族硫化物(如二苯并噻吩、4,6-二甲基二苯并噻吩等),则效果较差.对于上述有机硫化物的深度脱除,现有的加氢脱硫技术需要更为苛刻的反应条件,如高温、高压、高活性贵金属催化剂等,这势必导致燃油成本的大幅上升.因此,世界各国科学家都加强了高效非加氢脱硫方法的研究,主要包括氧化脱硫法、吸附脱硫法、萃取脱硫法和生物脱硫法等,其中氧化脱硫法是一种公认的具有应用前景的高效脱硫技术,该技术只需在常温常压下进行,可将含硫化合物氧化成其相应的砜类物质后,再用溶剂萃取法或吸附法除去.氧化脱硫反应中所涉及氧化剂有过氧化氢、有机过氧化物和氧气等.在这些氧化剂中,过氧化氢由于其活性高,在氧化反应后的副产物只有水,而被广泛研究.
　　离子液体作为一种低温熔融盐,因其独特的理化性质,如无蒸气压、低毒性、良好的溶解性以及结构可调等,受到了广泛的关注.其中,功能化多酸基离子液体不仅具备离子液体的特点,还具备多金属氧酸盐的优势,已被用于燃油的均相氧化脱硫过程中.但是,此过程中离子液体往往用量较大,催化剂难于回收和循环利用,氧化剂用量较大,阻碍其在工业中的应用.为了克服上述缺点,本课题组以多酸基离子液体[C16mim]3PW12O40和正硅酸四乙酯为原料通过溶胶-凝胶法直接合成了一系列含钨功能化介孔复合材料 W-SiO2,其中咪唑型阳离子作为介孔模板剂,而多酸阴离子作为金属源.采用 XRD, IR, Raman, BET, DRS, TEM等测试手段对所合成的材料进行了表征.结果表明,钨活性物种是以氧化钨的形式存在,并且能够均匀地分散在载体二氧化硅上,所合成的材料比表面积为513–743 m2/g,孔体积为0.37–0.50 cm3/g,孔径为2.91–3.20 nm.将所合成的材料 W-SiO2-20应用于燃油氧化脱硫反应(过程中无需有机溶剂),结果表明,所合成的复合材料既能作为吸附剂来吸附有机硫化物,又能作为催化剂来活化过氧化氢以氧化有机硫化物.在最优条件(反应温度60oC, O/S摩尔比为2.5,反应时间40 min)下,二苯并噻吩脱除率可100%,而且反应体系易于循环使用,7次循环后脱硫率无明显降低.此外,还考察了复合材料在相同条件下对于不同硫化物的脱除效果,结果表明,反应活性顺序为4,6-DMDBT＞ DBT＞ BT＞ DT.     

Selection of adsorbents for <Emphasis Type="Italic">in-situ</Emphasis> coupling technology of adsorptive desulfurization and biodesulfurization

In-situ coupling of adsorptive desulfurization and biodesulfurization is a new desulfurization technology for fossil oil. It has the merits of high-selectivity of biodesulfurization and high-rate of adsorptive desulfurization. It is carried out by assembling nano-adsorbents onto surfaces of microbial cells. In this work, In-situ coupling desulfurization technology of widely used desulfurization adsorbents of γ-Al₂O₃, Na-Y molecular sieves, and active carbon with Pseudomonas delafieldii R-8 were studied. Results show that Na-Y molecular sieves restrain the activity of R-8 cells and active carbon cannot desorb the substrate dibenzothiophene (DBT). Thus, they are not applicable to in-situ coupling desulfurization technology. Gamma-Al₂O₃ can adsorb DBT from oil phase quickly, and then desorb it and transfer it to R-8 cells for biodegradation, thus increasing desulfurization rate. It is also found that nano-sized γ-Al₂O₃ increases desulfurization rate more than regular-sized γ-Al₂O₃. Therefore, nano-γ-Al₂O₃ is regarded as the better adsorbent for this in-situ coupling desulfurization technology. Supported by National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No: 2006CB202507) and National High-tech R&D Program (Grant No: 2006AA02Z209)     

模拟油品氧化脱硫及反应动力学研究

在H₂O₂/WO₃/ZrO₂氧化体系中对以甲苯为溶剂、二苯并噻吩(DBT)为模型含硫化合物的模拟油品(硫的质量分数为1540×10^-6)进行了氧化脱硫研究,考察了反应温度、反应时间、氧化剂加入量、催化剂用量对DBT转化率的影响。实验结果表明,在反应温度50℃,反应时间90min,氧化剂加入量油/H₂O₂的体积比为20∶1和催化剂用量0.02g/mL的适宜氧化脱硫条件下,96%以上的DBT氧化为容易分离脱除的二苯并噻吩砜(DBTOs);同时研究了DBT氧化反应动力学,得知DBT氧化反应为一级反应,表观活化能E_a为55.37kJ/mol,指前因子A为3.35×10⁷min^-1。     

Interactions of thiophenes with C300 Basolite MOF in solution by the temperature-programmed adsorption and desorption,spectroscopy and simulations

Aromatic sulfur compounds, e.g. thiophene (T), benzothiophene (BT), dibenzothiophene (DBT), 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) are present in petroleum and fossil fuels, and cause air pollution, degradation of catalytic converters, deactivation of fuel-reforming catalysts. In this paper, we report kinetic, thermodynamic, spectroscopic and computational studies of adsorption of T, BT, DBT, and 4,6-DMDBT from solution in n-alkane on metal–organic framework (MOF) Basolite C300 at 25–115 °C. The novel temperature-programmed adsorption/desorption method allows the in situ measurement of an adsorption capacity at the variable temperature, and after the cycle “adsorption/desorption”. Adsorption of BT, DBT and 4,6-DMDBT at 25 °C occurs via the formation of the stoichiometric 1:1 adsorption complexes. BT adsorbs reversibly, while 4,6-DMDBT adsorbs irreversibly. The formation of the adsorption complex of the aromatic sulfur compound with MOF is confirmed by the fluorescence spectroscopy for the first time. The DFT computations of the geometry and energy of dispersive versus electronic interactions of T and DBT with the structural units of the C300 MOF are reported for the first time. The mechanism of adsorption is proposed as a combination of dispersive and electronic interactions of the aromatic sulfur compounds with BTC linker and Cu(II) CUS of C300 MOF.     

Catalytic Emulsion Based on Janus Nanosheets for Ultra-Deep Desulfurization

Catalytic Janus nanosheets were synthesized by using an anion-exchange reaction between heteropolyacids (HPAs) and the modified ionic-liquid (IL) moieties of Janus nanosheets. Their morphology and surface properties were characterized by using SEM, energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), FTIR spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies. Because of their inherent Janus structure, the nanosheets exhibited good amphipathic character with ILs and oil to form a stable ILs-in-oil emulsion. Therefore, these Janus nanosheets can be used as both emulsifiers and catalysts to perform emulsive desulfurization. During this process, sulfur-containing compounds at the interface could be easily oxidized and efficiently removed from a model oil. Application of this Janus emulsion brings an efficient, useful, and green procedure to the desulfurization process. Compared with the desulfurization catalyzed by using HPAs in a conventional two-phase system, the sulfur removal of dibenzothiophene (DBT) achieved in a Janus emulsion system was improved from 68 to 97 % within 1.5 h. Moreover, this emulsion system could be demulsified easily by simple centrifugation to recover both the nanosheets and the ILs. Owing to the good structural stability of the Janus nanosheets, the sulfur removal efficiency of DBT could still reach 99.9 % after the catalytic nanosheets had been recycled at least six times.     

Bio-regeneration of π-complexation desulfurization adsorbents

The coupling of adsorption desulfurization and biodesulfurization is a new approach to produce clean fuels. Sulfur compounds are firstly adsorbed on adsorbents, and then the adsorbents are regenerated by microbial conversion. п-Complexation adsorbent, Cu(l)-Γ, was obtained by ion exchanging Γ-type zeolite with Cu²⁺ and then by auto-reduction in helium at 450°C for 3 h. Dibenzothiophene (DBT) was used as a model compound. The effects of cell concentration, volume of oil phase, the ratio of aqueous phase to adsorbent on DBT desorption by a bacterium were studied. The amounts of DBT desorbed and 2-HBP produced can be apparently increased with addition of n-octane. BDS activity can be improved by increasing cell concentration and the ratio of water-to-adsorbent. 89% of DBT desorbed from the adsorbents can be converted to 2-HBP within 6 h and almost 100% within 24 h, when the volume ratio of oil-to-water was 1/5 mL/mL, the cell concentration was 60 g·L^-1, and the ratio of adsorbent-to-oil was 0.03 g- mL^-1. The amount of 2-HBP produced was strongly dependent on the volume ratio of oil-to-water, cell concentration and amount of adsorbent. Adsorption capacity of the regenerated adsorbent is 95% that of the fresh one after being desorbed with Pseudomonas delafieldii R-8, washed with n-octane, dried at 100°C for 24 h and auto-reduced in He.     

吡啶类离子液体萃取-氧化脱除含硫化合物

制备了N-丁基吡啶四氟硼酸盐离子液体([BPy]BF₄), 考察了其对含有噻吩和二苯并噻吩的模型油萃取脱硫的效果. 在此基础上以离子液体为萃取剂, 以过氧化氢(质量分数30%)为氧化剂, 研究了其对模型油进行萃取-氧化脱硫的效果, 结果表明, 当V([BPy]BF₄)∶V(Oil)∶V(H₂O₂)=1∶1∶0.4时, 在55 ℃下进行萃取-氧化脱硫30 min, 噻吩和二苯并噻吩的脱硫率分别达到78.5%和84.3%; 将该萃取-氧化体系应用于实际汽油体系, 脱硫率达到56.3%; 对使用过的离子液体进行再生处理, 重复使用4次脱硫率无明显变化.     

Deep extractive desulfurization of diesel fuels by FeCl3/ionic liquids

The extractive desulfurization of dibenzothiophene（DBT）,benzothiophene（BT）,and 4,6-dimethyldi-benzothiophene （4,6-DMDBT） in model oil was carried out using anhydrous FeCl₃ and 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium chloride system（[Omim|Cl·2FeCl₃）.This new system exhibited high extractive efficiency and the sulfur removal of DBT in model oil(V_IL/V_oil=1/20) could reach 99.4%at room temperature for 30 min,which was obviously superior to single[Omim]Cl as extractant（22.9%）.When the[Omim|CI·2FeCl₃ was used,the S-removal of 4,6-DMDBT and BT could also be up to 99.3%and 96.2%, respectively.Moreover,the ionic liquid could be recycled five times without a significant decrease in extractive ability.