Improvement of Desulfurization Performance of Rhodococcus erythropolis IGTS8 by Assembling Spherical Mesoporous Silica Nanosorbents on the Surface of the Bacterial Cells

Abstract

MCM-41 mesoporous silica is synthesized based on a self assembly method, using a quaternary ammonium template, CTAB for the adsorption of sulfur compounds from model oil (1.0 mmol/l DBT in dodecane solution). Then the adsorption capability of MCM-41 assembled on the surface of bacterium Rhodococcus erythropolis IGTS8 is examined regarding the improvement of the biodesulfurization process of the oil compound based on the measurement of DBT consumption rate and 2-HBP production. Study of the model oil desulfurization by the cells assembled with MCM-41 nanosorbent showed a further improvement in DBT reduction rate in comparison with the free cells. The results of the investigations showed that the maximum specific desulfurization activity in terms of DBT consumption rate and 2-HBP production are 0.34 μmol DBT min-1 g DCW-1 and 0.126 μmol 2-HBP min-1 g DCW-1 which indicated an increase of 19% and 16% compared to the highest specific desulfurization activity of free cells, respectively.