Exploring the degradation of organosulfur compounds at biocathodes

Summary

Thiols, also known as mercaptans, are organosulfur compounds that must be removed from natural gas and other fuels prior to their use to avoid the emission of sulphur dioxide and formation of acid rain. Traditional treatment methods consist of chemical oxidation, adsorption, or combustion. These methods are associated with high operational costs, yield large amounts of toxic waste or result in acid rain formation. As an alternative treatment strategy, we explored the degradation of thiols at biocathodes. The combination of bacteria and electricity results resulted in the conversion of thiols towards hydrogen sulfide. This hydrogen sulfide can be recovered as elemental sulfur and used as chemical resource or fertilizer.