The effects of moderate coal cleaning on the microbial removal of organic sulfur. [Rhodococcuc rhodochrous]
The purpose of this project is to investigate the possibilities of developing an integrated physical/chemical/microbial process for the precombustion removal of sulfur from coal. An effective pre- combustion coal desulfurization process should ideally be capable of removing both organic and inorganic sulfur. A variety of techniques exist for the removal of inorganic sulfur from coal, but there is currently no cost-effective method for the pre-combustion removal of organic sulfur. Recent developments have demonstrated that microorganisms are capable of specifically cleaving carbon-sulfur bonds and removing substantial amounts of organic sulfur from coal. However, lengthy treatment times are required. Moreover, the removal of organic sulfur form coal by microorganisms is hampered by the fact that, as a solid substrate, it is difficult to bring microorganisms in contact with the entirety of a coal sample. This study will examine the suitability of physically/chemically treated coal sample for subsequent biodesulfurization. Physical/chemical processes primarily designed for the removal of pyritic sulfur may also cause substantial increases in the porosity and surface area of the coal which may facilitate the subsequent removal of organic sulfur by microoganisms. During the current quarter, coal samples that have been chemically pretreated with methanol, ammonia, and isopropanol were examined for the removal of organic sulfur by the microbial culture IGTS8, an assay for the presence of protein in coal samples was developed, and a laboratory-scale device for the explosive comminution of coal was designed and constructed.
- Research Organization:
- Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE; ILDENR; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); Illinois Dept. of Energy and Natural Resources, Springfield, IL (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG22-91PC91334
- OSTI ID:
- 6012831
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/PC/91334-T28; ON: DE92007864
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
The effects of moderate coal cleaning on the microbial removal of organic sulfur. [Quarterly] technical report, March 1, 1992--May 30, 1992
The effect of moderate coal cleaning on microbial removal of organic sulfur
Related Subjects
010402* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Purification & Upgrading
550700 -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BIODEGRADATION
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
DECOMPOSITION
DESULFURIZATION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATERIALS
MICROORGANISMS
PROGRESS REPORT
SULFUR COMPOUNDS