The solubilization of low-ranked coals by microorganisms
Late in 1984, our Laboratory was funded by the Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center, US Department of Energy, to investigate the potential utility of microorganisms for the solubilization of low-ranked coals. Our approach has been multifacited, including studies of the types of microorganisms involved, appropriate conditions for their growth and coal-solubilization, the suceptibility of different coals to microbial action, the chemical and physical nature of the product, and potential bioprocess designs. A substantial number of fungal species have been shown to be able to solubilize coal. Cohen and Gabrielle reported that two lignin-degrading fungi, Polyporous (Trametes) versicolor and Poria monticola could solubilize lignite. Ward has isolated several diverse fungi from nature which are capable of degrading different lignites, and our Laboratory has isolated three coal-solubilizing fungi which were found growing on a sample of Texas lignite. The organisms we studied are shown in Table 1. The perceived significance of lignin degradation led us to examine two lignin-degrading strains of the genus Streptomyces. As discussed later, these bacteria were capable of solubilizing coal; but, in the case of at least one, the mechanism was non-enzymatic. The coal-solubilizing ability of other strains of Streptomyces was recently reported. Fakoussa and Trueper found evidence that a strain of Pseudomonas was capble of solubizing coal. It would thus appear that a diverse array of microorganisms possess the ability to solubilize coal. 16 refs.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 6339501
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-870764-1; ON: DE87011114
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
010405 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Hydrogenation & Liquefaction
010600* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Properties & Composition
BIOCONVERSION
BIODEGRADATION
BROWN COAL
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
DECOMPOSITION
DISSOLUTION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENZYMES
FOSSIL FUELS
FOURIER TRANSFORMATION
FUELS
FUNGI
INFRARED SPECTRA
INTEGRAL TRANSFORMATIONS
LIGNIN
LIGNITE
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
MATERIALS
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
PLANTS
POLYSACCHARIDES
RESONANCE
SACCHARIDES
SPECTRA
TRANSFORMATIONS