Experimental and numerical investigation of DBT degradation via Rhodococcus spp. (SL-9) through the use of biological assisted method

Emission of sulfur-based compounds create problem for environment as well as for on human health. To remove sulfur compounds from sulfur-rich fossil fuel, various techniques have been proposed and studied. Based on problem associated with environment as well as for human health, current study focused on DBT removal using novel Rhodococcus spp. (SL-9). Furthermore, study focused on kinetic modeling and simulation of biodesulfurization process for calculating the efficiency of newly isolated bacteria Rhodococcus spp. (SL-9), effect of cell growth, and degradation rate for DBT (dibenzothiophene). Rhodococcus spp. (SL-9) degrade 0.39 mM DBT within 7 days via 4S pathway. The efficiency of Rhodococcus spp. (SL-9) for maximum degradation and conversion of DBT into 2-HBP (2-hydroxybiphenyl) at optimized parameters are 30 °C, 7 pH, and glucose as carbon source. It has been observed through the study that an increase in degradation rate of model DBT compound at 3 mM about 70 hr of incubation period. Rhodococcus sp-SL-9 shows maximum rate of growth about 0.067 h−1 along with biodegradation of DBT rate about 0.89 h−1, which endorses its application in coal desulfurization process.