Enhanced biodesulfurization of recalcitrant organosulfur compounds by a newly identified Gordonia alkanivorans JT-2 in the presence of mycolic acid

With the increasing stringency of global regulations on the sulfur content of petroleum products, the development of efficient desulfurization technologies has become imperative. While biodesulfurization offers an eco-friendly alternative to hydrodesulfurization, its industrial adoption remains hindered by (i) poor degradation of alkylated DBTs/BTs and (ii) inefficient oil-water phase mass transfer. In this study, we identified a novel strain, Gordonia alkanivorans JT-2, demonstrating enhanced biodesulfurization performance, attributed to its production of mycolic acid, which improves hydrophobicity and mass transfer efficiency. Genomic analysis revealed key desulfurization genes (dszA, dszB, dszC, and dszD) and mycolic acid biosynthesis genes (fas, pks13, kasAB, fabD, and fadD32). Biodesulfurization experiments showed significant sulfur removal, reducing sulfur content in model oil to 35.7 ± 5.9 mg/L (DBT), 55.2 ± 7.9 mg/L (4-MDBT), 63.1 ± 5.7 mg/L (3-MBT), and 73.7 ± 3.8 mg/L (4,6-DMDBT) within 5 days. Protein interaction network analysis further illustrated the interplay between lipid biosynthesis and sulfur metabolism, underscoring the metabolic adaptability of strain JT-2. This work addresses a critical limitation in existing biodesulfurization technologies by improving mass transfer efficiency and broadening substrate range, positioning G. alkanivorans JT-2 as a promising candidate for industrial biodesulfurization applications.