United States Patent 5,919,683Gray, et. al.Jul. 6, 1999
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Rhodococcus flavin reductase complementing DSZA and DSZC activity
Abstract
The invention provides a novel flavin reductase, which has been isolated from Rhodococcus strain sp. IGTS8 and purified to homogeneity. The flavin reductase is of use in the biocatalytic desulfurization of a fossil fuel containing organic sulfur compounds. The method comprises the steps of (1) contacting the fossil fuel with an aqueous phase containing a biocatalyst capable of cleaving carbon-sulfur bonds and a rate-enhancing amount of the flavin reductase of the present invention, thereby forming a fossil fuel and aqueous phase mixture; (2) maintaining the mixture under conditions sufficient for cleavage of the carbon-sulfur bonds of the organic sulfur molecules by the biocatalyst, thereby resulting in a fossil fuel having a reduced organic sulfur content; and (3) separating the fossil fuel having a reduced organic sulfur content from the resulting aqueous phase.
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Inventors: Gray; Kevin A. (The Woodlands, TX); Childs; John D. (The Woodlands, TX); Squires; Charles H. (The Woodlands, TX). Assignee: Energy BioSystems Corporation (The Woodlands, TX). Appl. No.: 105,057Filed: Jun. 26, 1998 |
