BIOCATALYTIC DESULFURIZATION UNDER WAY

A pilot plant using a biocatalyst to remove sulfur from petroleum is up and running in St. Louis. Energy BioSystems Corp. (EBC), Houston, said its 5 b/d unit is the world's first plant to use such a system. It is processing high sulfur diesel fuel. The goal is to demonstrate fully integrated, continuous operation of the biocatalytic desulfurization (BDs) process developed by EBC. The pilot plant will supply data to help scale up the BDS process to commercialization. Data also will guide

March 20, 1995

2 min read

A pilot plant using a biocatalyst to remove sulfur from petroleum is up and running in St. Louis.

Energy BioSystems Corp. (EBC), Houston, said its 5 b/d unit is the world's first plant to use such a system. It is processing high sulfur diesel fuel.

The goal is to demonstrate fully integrated, continuous operation of the biocatalytic desulfurization (BDs) process developed by EBC.

The pilot plant will supply data to help scale up the BDS process to commercialization. Data also will guide development of BDS applications for other petroleum products and crude oil.

The unit is running on diesel feedstock provided by Total Raffinage Distribution SA, Paris. Built by M.W. Kellogg Company at its Houston technology development center, the unit is in use by EBS and Petrolite Corp. at Petrolite's St. Louis research and development center.

Total is collaborating with EBS for the first commercial application of BDS on diesel fuel, while Petrolite is the main source of funds for the $1.5 million pilot plant.

Following commercialization, plans call for Petrolite to provide field service for the units and Kellogg to provide basic engineering packages for EBS customers.

EBS expects the process to provide refiners a number of advantages over conventional desulfurization methods. Among the perceived advantages are lower capital and operating costs and improved safety due to lower temperature and pressure requirements.