Nanocatalysts for Oxidative Desulfurization of Liquid Fuel: Modern Solutions and the Perspectives of Application in Hybrid Chemical-Biocatalytic Processes

Abstract

In this paper, the current advantages and disadvantages of using metal-containing nanocatalysts (NCs) for deep chemical oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of liquid fuels are reviewed. A similar analysis is performed for the oxidative biodesulfurization of oil along the 4S-pathway, catalyzed by various aerobic bacterial cells of microorganisms. The preferences of using NCs for the oxidation of organic sulfur-containing compounds in various oil fractions seem obvious. The text discusses the development of new chemical and biocatalytic approaches to ODS, including the use of both heterogeneous NCs and anaerobic microbial biocatalysts that catalyze the reduction of chemically oxidized sulfur-containing compounds in the framework of methanogenesis. The addition of anaerobic biocatalytic stages to the ODS of liquid fuel based on NCs leads to the emergence of hybrid technologies that improve both the environmental characteristics and the economic efficiency of the overall process. The bioconversion of sulfur-containing extracts from fuels with accompanying hydrocarbon residues into biogas containing valuable components for the implementation of C-1 green chemistry processes, such as CH4, CO2, or H2, looks attractive for the implementation of such a hybrid process.

Keywords

• oxidative desulfurization
• nanocatalysts
• immobilized biocatalysts
• hybrid techniques
• biotransformation of sulfones