중온성과 고온성인 황산염 환원세균들을 사용하여 dibenzothiophene, 원유 및 Bunker C 유의 탈황실험을 하여 중온성인 분리균주 Desulfovibrio desulfuricans M6는 dibenzothiophene, crude oil를 42, 17 까지 탈황시켰으며, 고온성은 Desulfovibrio thermophilus에서 dibenzothiphene Bunker C 유를 각각 68, 33 탈화시켜, 황산염 환원세균에 의한 석유의 탈황 가능성을 보였다. 또한 Desulfovibrio 속과 Desulfotomaculum 속의 탈황 능력의 차이로부터 탈황기작이 hydrogenase와 환원력 원인 수소가 관련이 있다는 것을 알았다.
Dibenzothiophene, crude oil and bunker C oil were used in the microbial desulfurization experiments using thermophilic and mesophilic strains of Desulfovibrio and Desulfotomaculum. Mesophilic Desulforvibrio desulfuricans M6 showed the degrees of sulfur removal about 42% and 17% from dibenzothiophene and crude oil, respectively. Thermophilic Desulfovibrio thermophilus showed the degrees of sulfur removal about 68% and 33% from dibenzothiophene and bunker C oil. The strains of Desulfotomaculum were much less efficient than strains of Desulfovibrio. The latter have more complex and stronger gydrogen metabolism. These results showed that desulfurization is closely related to the hydrogen metabolism of the sulfate reducing bacteria.
