Process for enzymatic cleavage of C-S bonds and process for reducing the sulfur content of sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material

摘要

A process for organic C--S bond cleavage of a sulfur- containing organic carbonaceous material by contacting the carbonacous material with a sulfur specific enzyme reactant of membrane fragments, an enzyme, or a composition of enzymes having the ability to selectively react with sulfur by cleavage of organic C--S bonds. Preferred are sulfur specific reactants associated with cell membranes of Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain ATCC No. 53968 and Bacillus sphaericus strain ATCC No. 53969 and their derivatives which have the ability to selectively react with organic sulfur of sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material by cleavage of organic C--S bonds.