Desulphurization of Petroleum Waste

Abstract

The present study aimed at the removal of sulphur from the petroleum waste. It is a carbonaceous solid derived from oil refinery coker units or other cracking processes. Its high heat and low ash content make it good fuel for power generation in coal fired boilers, but petroleum coke is high in sulphur and low in volatile content which pose some environmental and technical problems with its combustion. The removal of sulphur is a gigantic task that can be achieved through various methods. The microbial method is an efficient and cost effective alternative method to chemical and physical methods because of its low demand for energy and less generation of waste by product. Microorganism used for the reduction of sulphur from pet coke is thiobacillus ferrooxidans. According to study of short interval, results suggest that with higher concentration of bacterial culture leaches sulphur more efficiently.