Microbial solubilization of coals
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
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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010400* -- Coal
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550700 -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BIODEGRADATION
CARBON 13
CARBON ISOTOPES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
COAL
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEL PERMEATION CHROMATOGRAPHY
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
MATERIALS
MICROORGANISMS
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
NUCLEI
RESONANCE
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUBILITY
STABLE ISOTOPES