ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Optimizing the Metabolic Performance of Mixed
Bacterial Culture Towards Dibenzothiophene
Desulfurization under the Effect of Varying
Nutrient and Environmental Factors
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1
Department of Microbiology, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
2
School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
3
Institute of Biochemistry, University of Baluchistan, Quetta 87300, Pakistan
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Department of Basic Medical Sciences, CAMS, Khamis Mushait Campus, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
5
Department of Public Health, CAMS, Khamis Mushait Campus, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
6
Deanship of Educational Services, Department of Biochemistry, Qassim University, Buraydah, Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia
Submission date: 2022-01-19
Acceptance date: 2022-03-23
Online publication date: 2022-05-20
Publication date: 2022-09-01
Corresponding author
Muhammad Ishtiaq Ali
Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam Universit, 45320, Islamabad, Pakistan
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(5):4167-4175
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ABSTRACT
Biodesulfurization is a promising approach, capable of reducing the sulfur content of recalcitrant
sulfur-containing heterocyclic compounds such as dibenzothiophene and their alkylated derivatives.
The performance of bio-desulfurization is undoubtfully dependent on different operating parameters.
The effect of different process parameters on the growth rate and desulfurization capability of the
bacterial consortium IQMJ-5 have been examined. The parameters that were optimized include
the temperature of incubation, initial pH of the medium, and DBT concentration. In addition, the
effect of several carbon and sulfur compounds on the growth of bacterial consortia IQMJ-5 was also
analyzed. Moreover, the concentration of the most effective carbon compound was also examined in
shake flask fermentation. The results showed that 25 ºC temperature, 7.6 pH, and 0.3 mM DBT were the
optimum conditions for the highest growth and desulfurization of the DBT. In addition, glycerol and
Na2SO4 were the bioavailable carbon and sulfur sources respectively, at which the consortium IQMJ-5
showed maximum growth. Moreover, 2gL-1 glycerol appeared as the carbon concentration at which the
consortium IQMJ-5 showed the highest activity. An enhanced rate of desulfurization was encountered
when a medium with optimized conditions was employed, compared to non-optimized conditions. The current research study uncovered the potential of the bacterial consortium IQMJ-5 to desulfurize
sulfur-containing organic compounds at the optimized conditions of different process parameters.