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Title: Biodegradation and bioconversion of coals by fungi. Quarterly progress report No. 2, January 1-March 31, 1986

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5931538

The following activities were carried out during the 2nd quarter of the project. We tested the effects of freeze-thaw cycles and leaching on the biosolubilization of unweathered Antioch Claiborne lignite. One goal of the tests was to establish a pretreatment method by which biosolubilization could be enhanced. We have not yet been able to increase the rate of degree of biosolubilization by any single pretreatment method applied to unweathered Claiborne Antioch lignite, a type which is more resistant to bioactivity compared to weathered samples of the same coal. We continued to refine our techniques for screening fungal isolates for biosolubilization activity. Our goal is to establish a standard method which will optimize bioactivity, minimize variability, and yield reliable results for screening tests. We compared activity of different fungal isolates at 25/sup 0/ or 30/sup 0/C and tested the effects of different mycological media on degree of biosolubilization. We continued to screen approximately 120 fungal isolates for activity on three different types of lignite. We now have in unifungal culture about 25 new fungal isolates which exhibit different degees of lignite biosolubilization. Among the lignites tested, we have observed marked differences in rate and degree of biosolubilization. We have begun identification studies of the new isolates. 1 fig., 2 tabs.

Research Organization:
Mississippi Univ., University (USA). Dept. of Biology
DOE Contract Number:
FG22-85PC80913
OSTI ID:
5931538
Report Number(s):
DOE/PC/80913-2; ON: DE86009595
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English