A STUDY ON BIODESULFURIZATION OF EGYPTIAN CRUDE PETROLEUM BY SOME BACTERIA

Abstract

Biodesulfurization of orgamc and inorganic sulfur derivatives in an Egyptian crude oil was evaluated. Initially Rhodococcus rlwdochrous ATCC 53968 , Pseudomonas putida , P.stutzeri and COI}'Ilebacterium glutamicum together with three isolates obtained from a local Egyptian environment \vere screened for their biodesulfurization activity where the mutant strain R.rlwdochrous ATCC 53968 and the isolate B.subtilis attained the higher capacity. It was essential to optimize the different physicochemical parameters controlling the bacterial desulfurization of the oil including incubation time and temperature , pH value , crude oil concentration , carbon and nitrogen sources and their concentration in addition to y-irradiation of the tested bacteria. Study of the different hydrocarbon constituents in crude oil before and after biodesulfurization was of particular interest to evaluate biodesulfurization process .