Applications of micellar enzymology to clean coal technology

Technical Report · Fri Oct 26 00:00:00 EDT 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6350234· OSTI ID:6350234

Walsh, C T

This project is designed to develop methods for pre-combustion coal remediation by implementing recent advances in enzyme biochemistry. The novel approach of this study is incorporation of hydrophilic oxidative enzymes in reverse micelles in an organic solvent. Enzymes from commercial sources or microbial extracts are being investigated for their capacity to remove organic sulfur from coal by oxidation of the sulfur groups, splitting of C-S bonds and loss of sulfur as sulfuric acid Dibenzothiophene (DBT) and ethlyphenylsulfide (EPS) are serving as models of organic sulfur-containing components of coal in initial studies. A goal of this project is to define a reverse micelle system that optimizes the catalytic activity of enzymes toward desulfurization of model compounds and ultimately coal samples. Among the variables which will be examined are the surfactant, the solvent, the water:surfactant ration and the pH and ionic strength of the aqueous phase. Studies were carried out with HRP, Type I RZ=1.2 and Type VI RZ=3.2 and laccase from Polyporus versicolor. Substrates for HRP assays included hydrogen peroxide, DBT, DBT sulfoxide, and DBT sulfone. Buffers included sodium phosphate. For formation of reverse micelle solutions the surfactant AOT, di(2-ethyl-hexyl)sodium sulphosuccinate, was obtained from Sigma Chemical Co. Isooctant was used as organic solvent. 12 refs., 5 figs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: Boston Univ., MA (USA). School of Medicine
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/FE
• DOE Contract Number: FG22-89PC89772
• OSTI ID: 6350234
• Report Number(s): DOE/PC/89772-T1; ON: DE91005553
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
COAL
DESULFURIZATION
THIONAPHTHENES
BIOCONVERSION
ENZYMES
MICELLAR SYSTEMS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
OXIDATION
PROGRESS REPORT
SULFONES
SURFACTANTS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SOLVENTS
010402* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Purification & Upgrading
550700 - Microbiology