Method for in situ biological conversion of coal to methane

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:869924

Volkwein, Jon C ^[1]

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1. Pittsburgh, PA

A method and apparatus are provided for the in situ biological conversion of coal to methane comprising culturing on a coal-containing substrate a consortium of microorganisms capable of degrading the coal into methane under suitable conditions. This consortium of microorganisms can be obtained from an underground cavity such as an abandoned mine which underwent a change from being supplied with sewage to where no sewage was present, since these conditions have favored the development of microorganisms capable of using coal as a carbon source and converting coal to methane. The consortium of microorganisms obtained from such abandoned coal mines can be isolated and introduced to hard-to-reach coal-containing substrates which lack such microorganisms and which would otherwise remain unrecoverable. The present invention comprises a significant advantage in that useable energy can be obtained from a number of abandoned mine sites or other areas wherein coal is no longer being recovered, and such energy can be obtained in a safe, efficient, and inexpensive manner.

• Research Organization: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV (United States)
• Assignee: Secretary of Interior (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5424195
• OSTI ID: 869924
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
situ
biological
conversion
coal
methane
apparatus
provided
comprising
culturing
coal-containing
substrate
consortium
microorganisms
capable
degrading
suitable
conditions
obtained
underground
cavity
abandoned
mine
underwent
change
supplied
sewage
favored
carbon
source
converting
mines
isolated
introduced
hard-to-reach
substrates
lack
otherwise
remain
unrecoverable
comprises
significant
advantage
useable
energy
sites
recovered
safe
efficient
inexpensive
manner
carbon source
converting coal
significant advantage
suitable conditions
inexpensive manner
methane comprising
situ biological
coal mine
organisms capable
comprising cu
biological conversion
containing substrate
/435/