Genetic manipulation of acidophilic bacteria which are potentially applicable in coal beneficiation
Abstract
The economic and practical aspects of a biological coal desulfurization process are the subject of increasing study. Depyritization of coal by the bacterium Thiobacillus ferrooxidans has been known for some time and pilot scale experiments are underway. A number of limitations have already been recognized for this process, foremost of which is the speed with which the microorganisms grow and attack the pyritic sulfur. Metal toxicity and mass transfer dynamics also present formidable hurdles. Removal of organic sulfur substituents poses even more difficult problems at this time, not least of which is the leak of efficient candidate organisms. Potential candidates at this time resemble members of the Psedomonadaceae, common environmental bacteria. The various limitations in the microorganisms being examined for a viable desulfurization process have led us to initiate studies on the extension of molecular genetic techniques to acidophilic bacteria, with an ultimate goal of introducing desirable characteristics for desulfurization (enhanced growth rate, metal resistance, biochemical capacity to degrade organic sulfur) either directly into T. ferrooxidans, or, alternatively, into a heterotrophic acidophile which can coexist in the same environment as T. ferrooxidans. We are focusing on members of the genus Acidiphilium, one such acidophilic heterotroph. 22 refs., 1 fig., 2more »
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (USA)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5902175
- Report Number(s):
- EGG-M-90121; CONF-910846-1
ON: DE91006141
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-76ID01570
- Resource Type:
- Conference
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: American Chemical Society (ACS) Fuels Division meeting, Washington, DC (USA), 26-31 Aug 1991
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; 59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; BACTERIA; GENETIC ENGINEERING; COAL; DESULFURIZATION; BIOTECHNOLOGY; HYBRIDIZATION; PLASMIDS; THIOBACILLUS FERROXIDANS; BACILLUS; CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS; CELL CONSTITUENTS; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; ENERGY SOURCES; FOSSIL FUELS; FUELS; MATERIALS; MICROORGANISMS; SULFUR-OXIDIZING BACTERIA; 010402* - Coal, Lignite, & Peat- Purification & Upgrading; 550700 - Microbiology
Citation Formats
Roberto, F F, Glenn, A W, Bulmer, D, Bruhn, D F, and Ward, T E. Genetic manipulation of acidophilic bacteria which are potentially applicable in coal beneficiation. United States: N. p., 1991.
Web.
Roberto, F F, Glenn, A W, Bulmer, D, Bruhn, D F, & Ward, T E. Genetic manipulation of acidophilic bacteria which are potentially applicable in coal beneficiation. United States.
Roberto, F F, Glenn, A W, Bulmer, D, Bruhn, D F, and Ward, T E. 1991.
"Genetic manipulation of acidophilic bacteria which are potentially applicable in coal beneficiation". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5902175.
@article{osti_5902175,
title = {Genetic manipulation of acidophilic bacteria which are potentially applicable in coal beneficiation},
author = {Roberto, F F and Glenn, A W and Bulmer, D and Bruhn, D F and Ward, T E},
abstractNote = {The economic and practical aspects of a biological coal desulfurization process are the subject of increasing study. Depyritization of coal by the bacterium Thiobacillus ferrooxidans has been known for some time and pilot scale experiments are underway. A number of limitations have already been recognized for this process, foremost of which is the speed with which the microorganisms grow and attack the pyritic sulfur. Metal toxicity and mass transfer dynamics also present formidable hurdles. Removal of organic sulfur substituents poses even more difficult problems at this time, not least of which is the leak of efficient candidate organisms. Potential candidates at this time resemble members of the Psedomonadaceae, common environmental bacteria. The various limitations in the microorganisms being examined for a viable desulfurization process have led us to initiate studies on the extension of molecular genetic techniques to acidophilic bacteria, with an ultimate goal of introducing desirable characteristics for desulfurization (enhanced growth rate, metal resistance, biochemical capacity to degrade organic sulfur) either directly into T. ferrooxidans, or, alternatively, into a heterotrophic acidophile which can coexist in the same environment as T. ferrooxidans. We are focusing on members of the genus Acidiphilium, one such acidophilic heterotroph. 22 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5902175},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991}
}