Exploring the Potential of Microbial Consortia for Biodesulfurization in Petroleum and Fuel Applications

The growing environmental concerns regarding sulfur emissions from petroleum and fuel products have driven significant interest in alternative desulfurization methods. Microbial consortia, consisting of diverse microorganisms, present a promising solution for biodesulfurization (BDS) processes in petroleum and fuel applications. This research explores the potential of microbial consortiums for the breakdown of containing sulfur substances, particularly dibenzothiophene (DBT), and a major sulfur component in petroleum and fuel products. Oil-contaminated soil samples were gathered from several petroleum extraction locations. Microbial consortia were isolated using serial dilution techniques on nutrient agar and basal salt media (BSM) supplemented using DBT as the only carbon and sulfur source. The consortia were then tested for DBT degradation using growth monitoring by optical density (OD) and sulfur removal efficiency via Gas Chromatography (GC) and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The Most Probable Number (MPN) method was employed to estimate the concentration of live bacteria in the samples, based on serial dilutions and incubation. The microbial consortia exhibited improved sulfur removal compared to individual strains, although these strains displayed varying levels of DBT degradation. Various bacterial genera were identified, including Thiobacillus, Bacillus, Sulfobacillus, Rhodococcus, Sphingomonas, Klebsiella, and Geobacillus. Sulfur removal was confirmed through GC and AAS analysis, showing a significant decrease in DBT concentration over time. Growth monitoring using OD620 revealed that the consortium reached an OD of 1.2 after 48 hours, while individual isolates average Thiobacillus, Bacillus, Sulfobacillus, Rhodococcus, Sphingomonas, Klebsiella, and Geobacillus. Sulfur removal was confirmed through GC and AAS analysis, showing a significant decrease of 0.71. This research highlights the effectiveness of microbial consortia in BDS processes, offering substantial implications for improving fuel quality and promoting environmental sustainability.