Petroleum desulfurization by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans M6 using electrochemically supplied reducing equivalent

Abstract

Desulfovibrio desulfuricans M6 selected for its ability to degrade dibenzothiophene was cultured in an electrochemical cell system. The ratio of carbon dioxide production to that of hydrogen sulfide was 2.13 in the control culture, whilst the ratios of the cultures made in the cathode compartment and the anode compartment were 1.54 and 3.13, respectively. When D. desulfurican M6 was incubated in a sulfate-free medium C with Kuwait crude oil and methyl viologen as an electron mediator in the cathode compartment, the sulfur content of crude oil was decreased with the production of hydrogen sulfide. ？ 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers.