Mathematical modelling of combined mass transfer and biochemical reaction of biodesulfurization of diesel using immobilized cells

Abstract

Environmental safety is one the global challenges that need attention of researcher to provide immediate solution. The research was conducted mainly to identified microorganism capable biodegrading the sulfur compounds in combustion fuel (Diesel) and also to carryout mathematical modelling of combine mass transfer and biochemical reaction Biodesulfurization (BDS) of Diesel was carryout by isolated bacterium pseudomonas stutzeri using sodium alginate as supporting media for cell immobilization. From the researched, the experimental value of thiopene was desulfurized from 6.9555mg/l to 1.105mg/l under 72-hour period. This means that 84.1% of thiopene in Diesel was desulfurized, while the results gotten from the simulated model (theoretical value), thiopene was desulfurized from 6.955mg/l to 1.054 mg/l. This implies that 84.8% of thiopene in Diesel was desulfurized. The experimental value (84.1%) is lower than the theoretical value (84.8%) due to the slight errors that might have occurred during the experiment and modelled equation is a little improves on previous models. The kinetic parameters obtained are