Composite nanolayer photocatalyst-biocatalyst Rhodococcus erythropolis R1 for desulfurization of dibenzothiophene

A nanolayer of composite and Rhodococcus erythropolis biocatalyst was studied for the first time for desulfurization of dibenzothiophene as a model sulfur compound and its performance was compared with that of composite and R. erythropolis alone. The nanolayer of composite was synthesized by sol-gel method from ferrous oxalate and zinc oxalate precursors coated on glass by spin coating technique. The structural and morpholaogical properties of the coated sample were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The cell debris and crude cell extract enzyme in the presence of zinc ferrit nanolayer was used for the degradation of dibenzothiophene as a model sulfur compound. Dibenzothiophene was degraded to a large extent after 5 min UV irradiation and biocatalytic treatment of enzymes were extracted from R. erythropolis R1.