Abstract: The present invention relates to certain alkylated 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl) benzenesulfinic acid and 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzenesulfonic acid compounds and compositions which consist essentially of 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl) benzenesulfinic acid, 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzenesulfonic acid and/or substituted derivatives thereof. The compositions of the invention are useful as hydrotropes and are also of use as, or as starting materials for, surfactants, and as starting materials for the synthesis of other useful chemicals such as, polymers and resins, solvents, adhesives and biocides.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel flavin reductase, which has been isolated from Rhodococcus strain sp. IGTS8 and purified to homogeneity. The flavin reductase is of use in the biocatalytic desulfurization of a fossil fuel containing organic sulfur compounds. The method comprises the steps of (1) contacting the fossil fuel with an aqueous phase containing a biocatalyst capable of cleaving carbon—sulfur bonds and a rate-enhancing amount of the flavin reductase of the present invention, thereby forming a fossil fuel and aqueous phase mixture; (2) maintaining the mixture under conditions sufficient for cleavage of the carbon—sulfur bonds of the organic sulfur molecules by the biocatalyst, thereby resulting in a fossil fuel having a reduced organic sulfur content; and (3) separating the fossil fuel having a reduced organic sulfur content from the resulting aqueous phase.