Particle size and bioreactor type for coal depyritization

Conference · Fri Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:141361

Noah, K S; Glenn, A W; Stevens, C J; Dugan, P R; McIlwain, M E; Leeper, S A ^[1]

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1. Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

The biological processing of coarse coals can be done in low-cost heaps, while finely ground coals require some type of slurry reactor. Experiments on microbial depyritization were conducted on laboratory-scale versions of both heap (4 in x 3 ft columns) and slurry (a 200L aerated trough reactor) reactors. In the column bioreactors, 6 x 30 mesh coal was found to give the best compromise between access of bacteria to the pyrite inclusions (which requires find grinding) and the essential flows of O{sub 2}, CO{sub 2}, and water into the heap. The aerated trough combined microbial degradation with physical separation of large inclusions of pyrite and minerals. Tests on two Illinois No. 6 coals showed up to 90% pyritic sulfur rejection with a 90% energy recovery and 30% ash removal for Monterey coal and up to 60% pyritic sulfur rejection was achieved with 90% energy recovery and 30% ash removal for Consol coal.

• OSTI ID: 141361
• Report Number(s): CONF-930304--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
BIODEGRADATION
BIOREACTORS
COAL
CONFIGURATION
DESULFURIZATION
PARTICLE SIZE
PROCESSING
PYRITE