Biological removal of hydrogen sulfide from coal synthesis gas. [Thiobacillus denitrificans]

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Prepr. Pap., Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5969765

Sublette, K L

The work described here was initiated to investigate the feasibility of a microbial process for the removal and oxidation of H/sub s/S from a gas stream such as the product of the shift conversion of coal gas or the product of the microbial methanation process. The high reaction rates and mild reaction conditions characteristic of a microbial process can potentially yield technical and economic advantages over conventional processes. Conceptually, a microbial process can replace an entire conventional gas processing train of H/sub 2/S removal (amine system), H/sub 2/S disposal (Claus or Stretford system) and tail gas clean-up or any individual processing step. There are many bacteria capable of H/sub 2/S oxidation and therefore serve as potential candidates to form the basis of a microbial gas desulfurization technology. However, the ideal microorganism for this application must possess several other characteristics in addition to the ability to oxidize hydrogen sulfide if the technology is to be economically viable. The bacteria chosen for this study was Thiobacillus denitrificans. Reported here is a study of the stoichiometry and kinetics of aerobic and anaerobic oxidation of H/sub s/S (g) by T. denitrificans in batch and continuous flow reactors under sulfide-limiting conditions. The maximum loading of the biomass for aerobic and anaerobic oxidation of H/sub 2/S was determined and a study of reactor upset conducted. The effect of heterotrophic contamination was also examined. Lastly, T. denitrificans has also been immobilized by co-culture with floc-forming heterotrophs to produce macroscopic floc with excellent settling properties. A study of the oxidation of H/sub 2/S by immobilized T. denitrificans is also reported.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Tulsa, OK (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5969765
• Report Number(s): CONF-8809269-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Prepr. Pap., Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem.; (United States) Journal Volume: 33:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010402* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Purification & Upgrading
550700 -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AEROBIC CONDITIONS
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
BACILLUS
BACTERIA
BATCH CULTURE
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOREACTORS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
COAL GAS
CONTINUOUS CULTURE
CULTURE MEDIA
DESULFURIZATION
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FLUIDS
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
GASES
GROWTH
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
IMMOBILIZED CELLS
KINETICS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MATERIAL BALANCE
MICROORGANISMS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OXIDATION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
REACTION KINETICS
REMOVAL
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPECTROSCOPY
STOICHIOMETRY
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR-OXIDIZING BACTERIA