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Title: Molecular biological enhancement of coal biodesulfurization. Technical report, March 1, 1994--May 31, 1994

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10182851· OSTI ID:10182851
 [1]
  1. Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (United States)

IGT has developed a microbial culture of Rhodococcus rhodochrous, designated as IGTS8, that is capable of specifically cleaving carbon-sulfur bonds in a range of organosulfur model compounds and is capable of removing organic sulfur from coal and petroleum without significantly sacrificing the calorific value of the fuel. Although IGTS8 possesses the ability to specifically remove organic sulfur from coal, a major research need is to develop improved strains of microorganisms that possess higher levels of desulfurization activity and therefore will permit more favorable biodesulfurization process conditions: faster rates, more complete removal, and smaller reactor size. Strain improvement is the single most important aspect to the development of a practical coal biodesulfurization process and accordingly is the focus of research in this project. During this quarter the DNA sequences and transcriptional initiation sites of several promoters derived from the chromosome of Rhodococcus rhodochrous IGTS8 were determined. Several strong promoters have been used to replace the promoter of the desulfurization genes with the intent of obtaining cultures with enhanced levels of desulfurization activity. The evaluation of the ability of improved cultures to desulfurize coal will be evaluated during the final quarter of this project.

Research Organization:
Illinois Dept. of Energy and Natural Resources, Springfield, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
FC22-92PC92521
OSTI ID:
10182851
Report Number(s):
DOE/PC/92521-T158; ON: DE94018878; TRN: 94:008202
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: [1994]
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English