Microbial recovery of metals from spent coal liquefaction catalysts. Quarterly report, July--September 1993
The project objectives outlined in the previous reports involved defining conditions and cultures best suited to achieve the most effective metal release from spent coal liquefaction catalysts by microbial processes. The work initiated in the first quarter of 1993 was continued and expanded using solvent extraction systems defined by the multiple solvent tests used for washing the catalysts. To reduce the number of solvent systems the data were examined and two solvents selected for continued testing. The two solvent systems which were chosen and have been employed are the isopropanol and a tetrahydrofuran (THF) extractive solvents. In the present simplified extractive system, the catalysts are washed with the solvent with simple agitation to prevent catalyst breakage. Studies on the effect of catalyst surface area will be continued in conjunction with the progressive development of the optimized microbial metal releasing system. Thermophilic cultures (Bacillus stearothermophilus and Metallosphaera sedula) are being grown at 60 C for initial metal releasing studies. Since THF has proven to be a superior solvent system as judged by metal release, research has concentrated on using THF as the solvent system allowing work to proceed rapidly. However, additional work will still be directed toward defining any solvent system superior to THF in terms of aiding microbiological release of metals and economic feasibility. These studies include measurements of metal release at various catalyst-media ratios for both the tetrahydrofuran and isopropanol washed catalysts. The importance of the catalyst-media ratios is assuming a greater importance since it is desired to reduce the media volume to the lowest level possible while still retaining good metals release.
- Research Organization:
- Geo-Microbial Technologies, Inc., Ochelata, OK (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC22-92PC92119
- OSTI ID:
- 10132507
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/PC/92119-T2; ON: DE94007997; BR: AA2560000; TRN: AHC29406%%15
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: [1993]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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