Title: Biocatalytic desulfurization of organosulfur molecules
Application Number: 93108737 Application Date: 1993.06.11
Publication Number: 1082094 Publication Date: 1994.02.16
Approval Pub. Date: Granted Pub. Date:
International Classifi-cation: C10G31/00;C12S1/02
Applicant(s) Name: Energy Biosystems Corporation Address:
Inventor(s) Name: Daniel J. Monticello;John J. Kilbane;II
Attorney & Agent: LI YING
Abstract:
    A method of desulfurizing a petroleum liquid containing organosulfur molecules is disclosed. The method relies upon the use of an aqueous biocatalytic agent comprising, in preferred embodiments, a substantially cell free extract of a microorganism which functionally expresses an enzyme capable of selectively cleaving organic carbon-sulfur bonds even in sulfur-bearing heterocycles, wherein the extract contains a substantial proportion of the total activity of said enzyme expressed by the microorganism. An emulsion, preferably a microemulsion, is formed between this biocatalytic agent and the petroleum liquid. Reversible microemulsions are particularly preferred, due to facilitated recovery of a desulfurized petroleum liquid at the conclusion of treatment. The invention described is particularly well suited to the desulfurization of petroleum liquids having a high relative abundance of refractory organosulfur molecules, such as dibenzothiophene.
Time: 13