Open AccessDBT desulfurization by decorating Rhodococcus erythropolis IGTS8 using magnetic Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles in a bioreactor
Author(s) -
Karimi Elham,
Jeffryes Clayton,
Yazdian Fatemeh,
Akhavan Sepahi Abbas,
Hatamian Ash,
Rasekh Behnam,
Rashedi Hamid,
Omidi Meisam,
EbrahimHabibi MohammadBagher,
Ashrafi Seyed Jamal
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
engineering in life sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.547
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1618-2863
pISSN - 1618-0240
DOI - 10.1002/elsc.201600080
Subject(s) - dibenzothiophene , green sulfur bacteria , transmission electron microscopy , scanning electron microscope , sulfur , flue gas desulfurization , field emission microscopy , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , petroleum , rhodococcus , energy dispersive x ray spectroscopy , nanoparticle , chemical engineering , materials science , nuclear chemistry , chemistry , analytical chemistry (journal) , nanotechnology , chromatography , organic chemistry , composite material , diffraction , physics , enzyme , engineering , pigment , bacteriochlorophyll , optics
Today, crude oil is an important source of energy and environmental contamination due to the continued use of petroleum products is a matter or urgent concern. In this work, two technological platforms, namely, the use of a robust desulfurizing bacteria and the use of nanotechnology to decorate the surface of the bacteria with nanoparticles (NP), were combined to enhance biodesulfurization (BDS). BDS is an ecologically friendly method for desulfurizing petroleum products while avoiding damage to the hydrocarbons due to the high temperatures normally associated with physical desulfurization methods. First, a bacterium known to be a good organism for desulfurization ( Rhodococcus erythropolis IGTS8) was employed in cell culture to remove a recalcitrant sulfur molecule from a common sulfur‐containing compound found in crude petroleum products (dibenzothiophene). 2‐Hydroxybiphenyl (2‐HBP) produced as a consequence of the BDS of dibenzothiophene was determined using Gibbs’ assay. The synthesized NP were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The field emission scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscopy images showed the size of the NP is 7–8 nm. The decorated cells had a long lag phase, but the growth continued until 148 h (at OD 600 = 3.408) while the noncoated bacteria grow until 96 h before entering the stationary phase at OD 600 = 2.547. Gibbs’ assay results showed that production of 2‐HBP by decorated cells was 0.210 mM at t = 148 h, while 2‐HBP production by nondecorated cells was 0.182 mM at t = 96 h. Finally, the experiments were repeated in a fermenter.