Biodesulphurization process for removal of sulphur from fuel oil

Abstract

Diesel and heavy fuel oil, especially low sulphur heavy stock (LSHS) contain organic sulphur compounds which are major source of air pollution. Hydrodesulphurization process is used to remove sulphur compounds from fuel oil. However, alkylated thiophenes (sulphur containing compounds) are difficult to remove from fuel oil by present hydrodesulphurization process. Therefore, extensive development work has been carried out in the field of Biodesulphurization process for removal of alkylated thiophenes (sulphur containing compounds found in diesel) from diesel and heavy fuel oil by using desulphurization enzymes produced by selected bacterial strain. This paper reviews few of the work on biodesulphurization process for removal of sulphur from fuel oil.