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Title: Anaerobic processing of low-rank coals. Quarterly progress report, July 1--September 30, 1992

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10124766· OSTI ID:10124766

The overall goal of this project is to find biological methods to remove carboxylic functionalities from low-rank coals and to assess the properties of the modified coal towards coal liquefaction. The main objectives for this quarter were: (i) continuation of microbial consortia maintenance and completion of coal decarboxylation using batch reactor system, (ii) decarboxylation of model polymer, (iii) characterization of biotreated coals, and (iv) microautoclave liquefaction of the botreated coal. Progress is reported on the thermogravimetric analysis of coal biotreated in the absence of methanogens and under 5% hydrogen gas exhibits increased volatile carbon to fixed carbon ratio; that the microbial consortia developed on coal are being adapted to two different model polymers containing free carboxylic groups to examine decarboxylation ability of consortium; completion of experiments to decarboxylate two model polymers, polyacrylic acid and polymethyl methacrylate, have been completed; that the biotreated coal showed increase in THF-solubles.

Research Organization:
Michigan Biotechnology Inst., Lansing, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC22-90PC90051
OSTI ID:
10124766
Report Number(s):
DOE/PC/90051-T8; PETC-34-92; ON: DE93008041
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: [1992]
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English