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
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Seminar on microbial processing of coal in studiengesellschaft Kohlegewinnung Zweite generation, Essen, F.R. Germany, 9 Jul 1987
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
COAL
BIOCONVERSION
OXIDATION
BIODEGRADATION
DISSOLUTION
ENZYMES
FOURIER TRANSFORMATION
FUNGI
INFRARED SPECTRA
LIGNIN
LIGNITE
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
BROWN COAL
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
INTEGRAL TRANSFORMATIONS
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLYSACCHARIDES
RESONANCE
SACCHARIDES
SPECTRA
TRANSFORMATIONS
010600* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Properties & Composition
010405 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Hydrogenation & Liquefaction