Revista Europea de Biología Experimental Acceso abierto

Abstracto

Microbial desulphurization of crude oil using Aspergillus flavus

Adegunlola, G. A., Oloke, J. K., Majolagbe, O. N., Adebayo, E. A., Adegunlola C. O., Adewoyin A. G and Adegunlola F. O.

The ability of the immobilized spores of Aspergillus flavus cultured in increasing concentrations of sodium metabisulphite to remove sulphur from crude oil was investigated. When 50g of immobilized spores of A. flavus was added to 100ml of crude oil sample for one, two, three and seven days, the amount of sulphur removed were 27.2%, 45.2%, 90.4% and 91.7% respectively. When 50g of immobilized spores of A. flavus was introduced into 100ml of crude oil for seven days at 35^oC, 40^oC and 45^oC, the amount of sulphur removed were 63.2%, 55.3% and 10.5% respectively. Lastly, when 10g, 50g and 100g of immobilized spores of A. flavus were added to 100ml of crude oil for seven days, the amount of sulphur removed were 49.6%, 94.7% and 53.9% respectively. Hence, A. flavus can be used to reduce sulphur contents in crude oil to a minimal level.