Background and Objectives: Bio-desulfurization (BDS) process is usinguses microorganisms for the fossil fuelsfuel sulfur elimination. The goal of this project, is the isolation of thermophilic microorganism able to support bio-desulfurization activity from DBT as the sole sulfur source and finding an optimized medium culture for growth and bio-desulfurization activity.
Material and Methods: Due toTo identify the cell growth and bio-desulfurization activity, Basal Salt Medium containing DBT was used. For optimization of the culture medium, different carbon and nitrogen source and also the different concentrations of sulfur source were used.
Results: The findings illustrate that the maximal cell growth achieved after 96 h incubation. Gibbs results showed that this strain eliminates the sulfur in DBT by 4S pathway and 2-hydroxybiphenyl, as the end product of the desulfurization process was produced at the maximal concentration (26.1 mgl-1) at 72 h.
Conclusion: The results of research illustrate that the isolated thermophilic strain is capable to eliminateof eliminating sulfur in DBT and this process may be improved by optimization of the culture medium.