Microbial solubilization of coals

Conference · Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6546911

Campbell, J A; Fredrickson, J K; Stewart, D L; Thomas, B L; McCulloch, M; Wilson, B W; Bean, R M

Microbial solubilization of coal may serve as a first step in a process to convert low-rank coals or coal-derived products to other fuels or products. For solubilization of coal to be an economically viable technology, a mechanistic understanding of the process is essential. Leonardite, a highly oxidized, low-rank coal, has been solubilized by the intact microorganism, cell-free filtrate, and cell-free enzyme of /ital Coriolus versicolor/. A spectrophotometric conversion assay was developed to quantify the amount of biosolubilized coal. In addition, a bituminous coal, Illinois No. 6, was solubilized by a species of /ital Penicillium/, but only after the coal had been preoxidized in air. Model compounds containing coal-related functionalities have been incubated with the leonardite-degrading fungus, its cell-free filtrate, and purified enzyme. The amount of degradation was determined by gas chromatography and the degradation products were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. We have also separated the cell-free filtrate of /ital C. versicolor/ into a <10,000 MW and >10,000 MW fraction by ultrafiltration techniques. Most of the coal biosolubilization activity is contained in the <10,000 MW fraction while the model compound degradation occurs in the >10,000 MW fraction. The >10,000 MW fraction appears to contain an enzyme with laccase-like activity. 10 refs., 8 figs., 5 tabs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6546911
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-16459; CONF-881205-1; ON: DE89005160
• Resource Relation: Conference: Gas, oil and coal biotechnology symposium, New Orleans, LA, USA, 5 Dec 1988; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
COAL
BIODEGRADATION
CARBON 13
GEL PERMEATION CHROMATOGRAPHY
MICROORGANISMS
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
SOLUBILITY
CARBON ISOTOPES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
MATERIALS
NUCLEI
RESONANCE
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STABLE ISOTOPES
010400* - Coal
Lignite
&amp; Peat- Processing
550700 - Microbiology