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The Microbial Desulfurization of Coal

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Book cover Geobiotechnology II

Part of the book series: Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology ((ABE,volume 142))

Abstract

The chemical structure of coal macerals is usually characterized by the presence of inorganic and organic sulfur. Inorganic sulfur consists mostly of iron sulfides, the so-called “pyritic sulfur,” whereas organic sulfur is covalently bound to the carbon atoms of the coal macromolecule. Comminution of coal to sizes that liberate the iron sulfide grains makes their removal with mineral beneficiation processes theoretically possible, but practically profitless. Microbial removal of pyritic sulfur has been extensively investigated over the last 50 years and the very promising results obtained have encouraged the design and construction of a semi-commercial pilot plant in the framework of Project JOULE 0039 funded by the European Commission. The results of the 1-year operation of this plant are reported here, the most significant being the 90 % pyrite removal achieved in five stirred tank bioreactors operating with a 40 % solids suspension and the pyritic iron solubilization rate of 36 mg dm−3 h−1. Taking into account the very high price of the kWh in Italy, a rough estimate of the overall costs is in the range from 25 to 30 € per tonne of dry coal. So far the development of a microbial process for organic sulfur removal has shown to be much more difficult and less successful, although significant progress in laboratory research is reported.

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Abbreviations

C.E.C:

Commission of European Communities

DBT:

Dibenzothiophene

D.M.T:

Deutsche Montan Technologie

E.C:

European Community

E.N.I:

Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi

EPS:

Extracellular polymer substance

EU:

European Union

m.o.g:

Mesh-of-grind

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geoengineering and Environmental Technologies Department, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy

    Giovanni Rossi

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  1. Giovanni Rossi
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Correspondence to Giovanni Rossi .

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  1. BGR - Fachbereich Geochemie d. Rohstoffe, Hannover, Germany

    Axel Schippers

  2. G.E.O.S. Ingenieursgesellschaft mbH, Halsbrücke, Germany

    Franz Glombitza

  3. Fakultät für Chemie - Biofilm Centre, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

    Wolfgang Sand

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Rossi, G. (2013). The Microbial Desulfurization of Coal . In: Schippers, A., Glombitza, F., Sand, W. (eds) Geobiotechnology II. Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology, vol 142. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/10_2013_178

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