Guobin Shan

Biodesulfurization of Dibenzothiophene by Microbial Cells Coated with Magnetite Nanoparticles

ABSTRACT Microbial cells of Pseudomonas delafieldii were coated with magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles and then immobilized by external application of a magnetic field. Magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by a coprecipitation method followed by modification with ammonium oleate. The surface-modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles were monodispersed in an aqueous solution and did not precipitate in over 18 months. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the average size of the magnetic particles was found to be in the range from 10 to 15 nm. TEM cross section analysis of the cells showed further that the Fe3O4 nanoparticles were for the most part strongly absorbed by the surfaces of the cells and coated the cells. The coated cells had distinct superparamagnetic properties. The magnetization (δs) was 8.39 emu · g−1. The coated cells not only had the same desulfurizing activity as free cells but could also be reused more than five times. Compared to cells immobilized on Celite, the cells coated with Fe3O4 nanoparticles had greater desulfurizing activity and operational stability.

Preparation and characterization of superparamagnetic functional polymeric microparticles

Abstract Superparamagnetic poly(styrene-divinylbenzene-glycidyl methacrylate) (Pst-DVB-GMA) microparticles were prepared via a modified suspension polymerization process. A magnetic fluid was first prepared by a chemical co-precipitation method. Then magnetic microparticles were produced by mixing the monomers and the magnetic fluid with water in the presence of a stabilizer poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) to form a suspension, and finally benzoyl peroxide was added to initiate the co-polymerization. The morphology and magnetic properties of the microparticles were examined by TEM and VSM. The spherically shaped microparticles, with a size range of 4 to 7 μm, showed distinct superparamagnetic characteristics. XRD was used to investigate the structure of the magnetite particles dispersed in the polymer matrix. The microparticles with epoxy groups on their surface can be applied directly to the separation of biomolecules.

Preparation of (Ni/W)-gamma-Al2O3 microspheres and their application in adsorption desulfurization for model gasoline

A kind of desulfurization adsorbent, (Ni/W)-γ-Al2O3 microsphere, was prepared by a new method of in situ chemical reduction. The adsorbent consists of active components (transition metals Ni and W) and a carrier (γ-Al2O3). Ni and W in γ-Al2O3 microspheres are fine in size and can be distributed homogeneously on the surface and inside of the γ-Al2O3 carrier. The desulfurization of the adsorbent made by the in situ chemical reduction method was carried out in model gasoline. Its desulfurization capacity increases 23% in comparison with that made by the conventional impregnation method. The composition and configuration of adsorbents were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The in situ chemical reduction method offers a new and promising method for preparation of desulfurization adsorbents containing active components.

Bio-regeneration of π-complexation desulfurization adsorbents

The coupling of adsorption desulfurization and biodesulfurization is a new approach to produce clean fuels. Sulfur compounds are firstly adsorbed on adsorbents, and then the adsorbents are regenerated by microbial conversion. п-Complexation adsorbent, Cu(l)-Γ, was obtained by ion exchanging Γ-type zeolite with Cu2+ and then by auto-reduction in helium at 450°C for 3 h. Dibenzothiophene (DBT) was used as a model compound. The effects of cell concentration, volume of oil phase, the ratio of aqueous phase to adsorbent on DBT desorption by a bacterium were studied. The amounts of DBT desorbed and 2-HBP produced can be apparently increased with addition of n-octane. BDS activity can be improved by increasing cell concentration and the ratio of water-to-adsorbent. 89% of DBT desorbed from the adsorbents can be converted to 2-HBP within 6 h and almost 100% within 24 h, when the volume ratio of oil-to-water was 1/5 mL/mL, the cell concentration was 60 g·L-1, and the ratio of adsorbent-to-oil was 0.03 g- mL-1. The amount of 2-HBP produced was strongly dependent on the volume ratio of oil-to-water, cell concentration and amount of adsorbent. Adsorption capacity of the regenerated adsorbent is 95% that of the fresh one after being desorbed with Pseudomonas delafieldii R-8, washed with n-octane, dried at 100°C for 24 h and auto-reduced in He.

π-Complexation studied by fluorescence technique: Application in desulfurization of petroleum product using Magnetic π-complexation sorbents

Abstract Magnetic π‐complexation sorbents were studied for petroleum product desulfurization by fluorescent technique. The ability of metal cation to form π‐complexation decreases in the order following: Cu+>Ni2+>Co2+>Al3+. The order is consistent with that of desulfurization performance of their corresponding magnetic sorbents (γ‐Al2O3‐Cu(I)>γ‐Al2O3‐Ni(II)>γ‐Al2O3‐Co(II)>γ‐Al2O3). Both π‐complexation strength and desulfurization performance of the sorbents increase with temperature. The adsorptive performances of magnetic γ‐Al2O3‐Cu(I) sorbent to different compounds have the following orders: DBT>fluorene, and pyrene>naphthalene>benzene, respectively. In this study, dibenzothiophene (DBT) was used as a model sulphur‐containing compound for desulfurization. The maximal adsorption amount of magnetic γ‐Al2O3‐Cu(I), was 0.362 mmol DBT g−1.