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Title: Microbial reduction of SO sub 2 and NO sub x as a means of by-product recovery/disposal from regenerable processes for the desulfurization of flue gas

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6240862

For the past five years Combustion Engineering (CE) and, since 1986, the University of Tulsa (TU) have been investigating the oxidation of H{sub 2}S by the facultatively anaerobic and autotrophic bacterium Thiobacillus denitrificans and have developed a process concept for the microbial removal of H{sub 2}S from a gas stream. In 1987/88 we demonstrated that the sulfate reducing bacterium, Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, can be grown anaerobically in mixed, septic cultures using SO{sub 2} and glucose. The simultaneous removal of SO{sub 2} and NO by D. desulfuricans and T. denitrifications co-cultures and cultures in series was demonstrated but is not feasible at this time. Microbial reduction of SO{sub 2} is a viable process concept for by-product recovery from desulfurization. In addition it has also been demonstrated that T. denitrificans can be grown anaerobically on NO(g). Therefore, microbial reduction of NO{sub x} is a viable process concept for the disposal of concentrated streams of NO{sub x} as may be produced by certain regenerable processes for the removal of SO{sub 2} and NO{sub x} from flue gas. Current progress includes work on a number of batch experiments using D. desulfuricans working cultures using municipal sludge as a carbon and energy source. It was found that the addition of yeast extract stimulates H{sub 2}S production. 19 refs., 4 figs., 15 tabs.

Research Organization:
Tulsa Univ., OK (USA). Center for Environmental Research and Technology
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/FE
DOE Contract Number:
FG22-90PC90096
OSTI ID:
6240862
Report Number(s):
DOE/PC/90096-1; ON: DE91008406
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English