Locally sourced crude oil from Iraqi Kurdistan contains recalcitrant organosulfur compounds that impair air quality, corrode refinery equipment, and hinder compliance with fuel sulfur regulations. This study isolated a Pseudomonas sp. closely related to the Pseudomonas aeruginosa from oil-contaminated soil near Kashy Refinery (Duhok Province, Kurdistan Region, Iraq) and evaluated its biodesulfurization potential as an environmentally friendly alternative to hydrodesulfurization. Batch experiments were conducted at 34 °C and atmospheric pressure using mineral salts medium supplemented with 1%, 3%, and 5% (v/v) Tawki crude oil. The highest sulfur removal efficiency of 83.33% was obtained at 1% (v/v) crude oil after 10 days of incubation, as determined by X-ray fluorescence, with visible emulsification and sediment formation indicating active microbial transformation. The observed decrease in total sulfur content, concurrent sulfate accumulation in the aqueous phase, and process simulations representing dibenzothiophene (DBT) conversion to 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP) and sulfate were consistent with a sulfur-selective, 4S-like route but did not provide direct genetic confirmation of the canonical 4S pathway. These findings highlight the potential of indigenous Pseudomonas populations for regionally tailored biodesulfurization strategies that can support cleaner fuel production and reduced sulfur emissions in Iraqi Kurdistan, while emphasizing the need for future work on sulfur-free media, resting-cell assays, and characterization of 4S-pathway genes.

This study was aimed the covalently immobilization of Aspergillus niger amyloglucosidase (ANAG) onto activated carbon (AC) obtained from sesame seed shell. AC was firstly functionalized with ethylenediamine, and after then activated with glutaraldehyde. 99.80% immobilization yield and 99.83% activity yield were obtained as the result of optimization of immobilization conditions (pH and molarity of immobilization buffer, AC amount, and reaction time). The optimum pH (5.5) and the optimum temperature range (55–60
C) for ANAG were not affected by immobilization. After immobilization, Vmax value decreased from 1464.1 lmol D-glucose/L.min to 1342.3 lmol D-glucose/L.min, while Km value decreased from 116.3 g maltodextrin/L to 109.9 g maltodextrin/L. The immobilized enzyme retained 99.30% and 98.30% of its initial activity, respectively after twenty repeated uses and after twenty days of storage in 5 mL sodium phosphate buffer (0.1 M, pH 5.5) at +4
C in a refrigerator. Finally, glucose syrup was produced from maltodextrin solution having 1% (w/v) concentration by using the immobilized ANAG. Maltodextrin was completely converted to glucose after four hours. Consequently, it can be said that the immobilized ANAG obtained in this study can be used in the industrial production of glucose syrup.

The preparation of activated carbon from sesame shells as raw precursor was investigated in the study by sequentially applying microwave and conventional heating methods assisted by zinc chloride activation. The optimizisation of experimental parameters including microwave power, microwave treatment time, conventional activation time, conventional activation temperature and zinc chloride concentration ratio for the microwave and conventional heating method was performed. The characterization of the prepared activated carbon was done by thermogravimetric and differential thermal measurements, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and specific surface area analyses. The maximum surface area of 1254 m2/g for the prepared activated carbon was obtained at a microwave power of 750 W, a microwave treatment time of 20 min, an activation time of 45 min, an activation temperature of 500°C and zinc chloride concentration ratio of 1:1. Methylene blue and iodine adsorption capacities for the prepared activated carbon were 103 and 1199 mg/g, respectively.