BIODEGRADATION OF BENZOTHIOPHENE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide such a desulfurization method as to be capable of efficiently decomposing benzothiophene in a water-immiscible organic material such as a petroleum product into the corresponding sulfate while being incapable of decomposing olefin-based hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons necessary for maintaining octane number. SOLUTION: This method for removing benzothiophene from a water- immiscible organic material is such one that microorganisms belonging to the genus Psudomonas and having ability to oxidize benzothiophene at a rate of >=1mg benzothiophene/h/g microbial cell body on a dry basis and another kind of microorganisms belonging to the genus Bacillus and having ability to decompose benzothiophenesulfone or benzothiophene sulfoxide are brought into contact with a two-phase mixture of an aqueous medium and benzothiophene-contg. waterimmiscible organic material either in this order or simultaneously under aerobic conditions. For example, benzothiophene in a petroleum product can be removed at a level of >=100ppm at room temperature in three days.