Application of Bacillus subtilis for reducing ash and sulfur in coal

The replacement of coal with other energy sources is due to the presence of harmful impurities such as sulfur that can lead to emission of harmful and corrosive gases such as H₂S and SO₂. These gases can affect the human health due to its toxicity. Also, the mineral matter (ash) can cause several ty...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental earth sciences 2013-09, Vol.70 (2), p.753-760
Main Authors: Abdel-Khalek, M. A, El-Midany, A. A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adsorption
Ash
ash content
Bacillus subtilis
Bacteria
Biogeosciences
Bioremediation
burning
Coal
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Emissions
energy
Energy sources
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
Environmental Science and Engineering
Exact sciences and technology
Fourier transforms
gases
Geochemistry
Geology
Heavy metals
human health
Hydrogen sulfide
Hydrology/Water Resources
Industrial wastes
Original Article
Pollution, environment geology
researchers
Respiratory system
respiratory tract diseases
Studies
Sulfur
Sulfur dioxide
Terrestrial Pollution
toxicity
Zeta potential
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Summary:The replacement of coal with other energy sources is due to the presence of harmful impurities such as sulfur that can lead to emission of harmful and corrosive gases such as H₂S and SO₂. These gases can affect the human health due to its toxicity. Also, the mineral matter (ash) can cause several types of respiratory system diseases due to the presence of heavy metals and formation of hazardous compounds while burning of coal. In order to avoid the production of such emissions, the researchers all over the world were looking for a methodology that can eliminate or reduce these impurities from coal. Therefore, the current study aims at decreasing the sulfur and ash content in Egyptian coal (Maghara coal), using bioflotation technique. The effect of Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) on the removal/reduction of sulfur and ash was investigated. The affinity of B. subtilis to coal surface was characterized using zeta-potential, adsorption tests and Fourier transform infrared. The bioflotation results showed that, at optimum conditions, a clean coal contains 0.92 % total sulfur and 1.95 % ash and yield exceeding 72 % was obtained from the starting coal containing 3.3 % sulfur and 6.65 % ash.
ISSN:1866-6280
1866-6299
DOI:10.1007/s12665-012-2163-4