The effect of nature of raw coal on the adhesion of bacteria to coal surface

The surface properties of coal and solution pH play a major role in determining the adhesion of microorganisms. In this study, three Indian coal samples with different compositions have been used and the adhesion of the bacterium Bacillus polymyxa to these coals has been investigated. It was found t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fuel (Guildford) 2003, Vol.82 (2), p.225-231
Main Authors: Raichur, A.M, Vijayalakshmi, S.P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adhesion
Applied sciences
Ash
Bacillus polymyxa
Bacteria
Coal
Coal and derived products
Coal ash
Composition
Contact angle
Energy
Exact sciences and technology
Free energy
Fuels
Interfacial energy
pH effects
Structure, chemical and physical properties
Surface properties
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Summary:The surface properties of coal and solution pH play a major role in determining the adhesion of microorganisms. In this study, three Indian coal samples with different compositions have been used and the adhesion of the bacterium Bacillus polymyxa to these coals has been investigated. It was found that due to the high ash content of coal, the zeta-potential was negative over most of the pH range which is close to the values exhibited by pure quartz as well as B. polymyxa. Similarly, the surface free energy components of coal (derived from contact angle measurements) showed that the electron-donor component increased with ash content. Adhesion experiments revealed that maximum adhesion of the bacterium B. polymyxa occurred on to the coal samples around the point-of-zero-charge of the coal and the bacterium i.e. about pH 2. Further, adhesion was found to be dependent on the ash content and the surface free energy of the coals.
ISSN:0016-2361
1873-7153
DOI:10.1016/S0016-2361(02)00252-1