Microbial coal solubilization in defined culture systems: Biochemical and physiological studies

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6947074

Faison, B D; Lewis, S N

Paecilomyces TLi, a fungus isolated from coal, had previously been shown to transform solid coal into a water-miscible liquid during surface growth on coal or on a complex, solid microbiological medium. Coal solubilization has now been demonstrated in submerged cultures grown in defined liquid minimal media, although activity under these conditions is less than that observed in surface culture. Coal solubilization occurs under both alkaline and acidic conditions. Alkaline catalysis by biogenic materials(s), produced in specific response to the presence of coal, has been implicated in both systems. A variety of oxidized hydrocarbon substrates, including both aliphatic and aromatic compounds, can be utilized by this organism. Coal solubilization is enhanced by growth on aromatic compounds structurally related to lignin or coal monomers. Preliminary evidence suggests that coal solubilizing activity is self-regulating in this organism. 8 refs., 2 figs., 6 tabs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6947074
• Report Number(s): CONF-8808104-1; ON: DE88015549
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AROMATICS
BIODEGRADATION
BIOREACTORS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
CULTURE MEDIA
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
FUNGI
GROWTH
MATERIALS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
SOLUBILITY
SUBSTRATES