Biogasification of low-rank coal

Technical Report · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:7054615

Harding, R; Czarnecki, S; Isbister, J; Barik, S ^[1]

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1. ARCTECH, Inc., Chantilly, VA (United States)

ARCTECH is developing a coal biogasification technology, The MicGAS Process'' for producing clean fuel forms such as methane. The overall objective of this research project was to characterize and construct an efficient coal gasifying capable of converting Texas lignite to methane. The technical feasibility for bioconversion of Texas lignite to methane, volatile fatty acids, alcohols, and other soluble organic products has been demonstrated. Several biogasification were evaluated for their ability to degrade low-rank coals to methane, and Mic-1 a mixed culture derived from a wood-eating- Zootermopsis termite species, was identified as the most active and efficient for biogasification of Texas lignite. Parameters such as pH, temperature, redox potential, coal particle size, coal solids loadings, culture age, nutrient amendments, and biomass concentration were studied to determine the optimum conditions required for efficient biogasification of coal. Analytical methods for monitoring the production of methane, degradation intermediates, and biomass were developed. Most significant achievements were: (1) development of analytical methodology to monitor coal biogasification; (2) confirmation of biogasification efficiency of Mic-1 culture; (3) ability of Mic-1 consortium to retain coal-degrading activity when grown in the absence of coal; and (4) significantly higher (ca. 26%) methane production from micronized coal (ca. 10 gm) than from larger coal particle sizes.

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); ARCTECH, Inc., Chantilly, VA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: EPRI; Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7054615
• Report Number(s): EPRI-TR-101572
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010404* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Gasification
550700 -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALCOHOLS
ALKANES
BACTERIA
BIOCONVERSION
BIODEGRADATION
BIOTECHNOLOGY
BROWN COAL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CELL CULTURES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
COAL GASIFICATION
DECOMPOSITION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASIFICATION
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LIGNITE
MATERIALS
METHANE
MICROORGANISMS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE SIZE
SIZE
TEXAS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
USA