Desulfurization of thiophene by Pseudomonas stutzeri SEE-1

Desulfurization of thiophenic compounds is one of the important issues in refineries and environmental pollutions control. A bacterium was isolated from MTBE enriched soil was able to desulfurize of the thiophene. It was identified as Pseudomonas stutzeri based on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence. Desulfurization reactions from thiophene as the model of thiophenic compounds in aqueous phase by resting cells of this strain carried out and the concentration of thiophene was determined by UV-visible spectrophotometer in 230 nm wavelength. The results showed that the reduction of thiophene was 95% (from 12. 4 mM to 0. 3 mM) after 15 hours. Gas chromatography analysis showed the same results of thiophene desulfurization. Furthermore، The desulfurization activity of resting cells in a biphasic system containing crude oil by determination of released sulfate content turbidimetrically with BaCl2 was investigated.