Biodesulfurization of Fossil Fuels: Analysis and Prospective

Abstract

Biodesulfurization (BDS) of fossil fuels is a promising method for treating the high content of sulfur in crude oils and their derivatives in the future, attributed to its environmental-friendly nature and the technical efficient ability to desulfurize the organosulfur compounds recalcitrant on other techniques. It was found that the bioreaction rate depends on the treated fluid, targeting sulfur compounds, and the microorganism applied. Also, many studies investigated the operation conditions, specificity, and biocatalysts modification to develop BDS efficiency. Furthermore, mathematical kinetics models were formulated to represent the process. In this review, the previous studies are analyzed and discussed. This review article is characterized by a clear picture of all BDS's experimental, industrial, procedural, theoretical, and hypothetical points.