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Title: Removal of mercury from coal via a microbial pretreatment process

Abstract

A process for the removal of mercury from coal prior to combustion is disclosed. The process is based on use of microorganisms to oxidize iron, sulfur and other species binding mercury within the coal, followed by volatilization of mercury by the microorganisms. The microorganisms are from a class of iron and/or sulfur oxidizing bacteria. The process involves contacting coal with the bacteria in a batch or continuous manner. The mercury is first solubilized from the coal, followed by microbial reduction to elemental mercury, which is stripped off by sparging gas and captured by a mercury recovery unit, giving mercury-free coal. The mercury can be recovered in pure form from the sorbents via additional processing.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. Knoxville, TN
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1025534
Patent Number(s):
7,998,724
Application Number:
11/796,173
Assignee:
UT-Battelle LLC (Oak Ridge, TN)
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES

Citation Formats

Borole, Abhijeet P, and Hamilton, Choo Y. Removal of mercury from coal via a microbial pretreatment process. United States: N. p., 2011. Web.
Borole, Abhijeet P, & Hamilton, Choo Y. Removal of mercury from coal via a microbial pretreatment process. United States.
Borole, Abhijeet P, and Hamilton, Choo Y. 2011. "Removal of mercury from coal via a microbial pretreatment process". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1025534.
@article{osti_1025534,
title = {Removal of mercury from coal via a microbial pretreatment process},
author = {Borole, Abhijeet P and Hamilton, Choo Y},
abstractNote = {A process for the removal of mercury from coal prior to combustion is disclosed. The process is based on use of microorganisms to oxidize iron, sulfur and other species binding mercury within the coal, followed by volatilization of mercury by the microorganisms. The microorganisms are from a class of iron and/or sulfur oxidizing bacteria. The process involves contacting coal with the bacteria in a batch or continuous manner. The mercury is first solubilized from the coal, followed by microbial reduction to elemental mercury, which is stripped off by sparging gas and captured by a mercury recovery unit, giving mercury-free coal. The mercury can be recovered in pure form from the sorbents via additional processing.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1025534}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Aug 16 00:00:00 EDT 2011},
month = {Tue Aug 16 00:00:00 EDT 2011}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Biomodification of Coal to Remove Mercury
journal, January 2006