Biological production of fuels from coal-derived gases: Final report. [List of 19 organisms with source, substrates, and major products]

Technical Report · Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6862745

As an alternative to catalytic liquefaction, coal-derived synthesis gas may be biologically converted to useful chemicals and liquid fuels by the action of microorganisms. Theoretically, many chemicals may be produced biologically, including methanol, ethanol, acetone, acetic acid (or acetate), and higher acids. Organisms have been identified that are capable of converting carbon monoxide to methanol. However, the organisms to produce other chemicals are largely unknown, so that natural sources of bacteria must be screened for their ability to convert synthesis gas or acetate to liquid fuels and chemicals. A culture has been isolated from animal waste which is capable of producing ethanol and acetate from the carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen components of synthesis gas. The culture has been able to produce 4.3 g/l of ethanol in small batch culture, but also produces at least 3.2 g/l of acetate (or acetic acid). Media constituents such as east extract and 2-bromoethane sulfonic acid affect the ratio of ethanol to acetate, and agitation promotes mass transfer of carbon monoxide into the liquid phase, thereby enhancing reaction rate. The feasibility of utilizing a biological process to produce liquid fuels from the components of synthesis gas has been demonstrated by operating the culture under continuous feed conditions. Hydrogen and carbon dioxide utilization occurred only when a significant quantity of the carbon monoxide had disappeared. Future work during subsequent contracts should concentrate on producing a single liquid fuel as a product, increasing the product concentration, and defining and optimizing reaction conditions for maximizing product yield. 90 refs., 36 figs., 19 tabs.

• Research Organization: Arkansas Univ., Fayetteville (USA). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
• DOE Contract Number: AC22-85PC80012
• OSTI ID: 6862745
• Report Number(s): DOE/PC/80012-T9; ON: DE88012127
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
BIOCONVERSION
BIBLIOGRAPHIES
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON MONOXIDE
METHANE
MICROORGANISMS
SYNTHESIS GAS
ACETATES
ACETIC ACID
ACETONE
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
BIOREACTORS
CELL CULTURES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CITRIC ACID
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ETHANOL
HYDROGEN
INHIBITION
KINETICS
LIGNITE
LIQUID FUELS
MASS TRANSFER
METABOLISM
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
METHANOL
ORGANIC ACIDS
PRESSURE EFFECTS
PROGRESS REPORT
REACTION INTERMEDIATES
RECOMMENDATIONS
ALCOHOLS
ALKANES
BROWN COAL
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHALCOGENIDES
COAL
DECOMPOSITION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECONOMICS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY ACIDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
KETONES
MATERIALS
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
550700* - Microbiology
010404 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Gasification