Efficient biodesulfurization of diesel oil by Gordonia sp. SC-10 with highly hydrophobic cell surfaces

Abstract Biodesulfurization is a promising, environmentally friendly method to desulfurize the organosulfur compounds in crude oils through the highly selective cleavage of carbon-sulfur bonds under mild reaction conditions. In this study, the behavior of a hydrophobic bacterium, Gordonia sp. SC-10, was evaluated in the presence of diesel oils. The biodesulfurization pathways, bacterium hydrophobicity, and cell ultrastructure were investigated, and the capability of strain SC-10 to desulfurize diesel oil was also studied. The results showed that strain SC-10 can desulfurize organosulfur compounds through sulfur-specific desulfurization pathways by producing corresponding hydroxylated products in oil-water polyphasic systems. Mycolic acids consisting of 47 and 58 carbon atoms chains were produced on the cell surface, and inclusion bodies were produced in the cells, both of which may improve the bioavailability of the substrates, thereby enhancing its adaptability to oil-water polyphasic systems. To our knowledge, this is the first report of intracellular inclusion body formation during biodesulfurization. Strain SC-10 also exhibited broad substrate specificity towards organosulfur compounds and effectively desulfurized diesel oils. The sulfur content in real-life diesel oil was reduced from 167.7 mg/L to 19.7 mg/L, with 88.3% of sulfur removed after five days of biodesulfurization. This study showed that Gordonia sp. SC-10 can be effectively used for the biodesulfurization of diesel oils.