Technological and economic aspects of coal biodesulfurisation

The sulfur found in coal is either part of the molecular coal structure (organically bound sulfur), is contained in minerals such as pyrite (FeS2), or occurs in minor quantities in the form of sulfate and elemental sulfur. When pyrite crystals are finely distributed within the coal matrix, mechanica...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biodegradation (Dordrecht) 1998-01, Vol.9 (3-4), p.293-300
Main Author: KLEIN, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Bioreactors
Biotechnology
Coal
Coal - analysis
Coal - economics
Crystals
Energy
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects
Industrial Microbiology
Industry - economics
Iron - analysis
Iron - economics
Iron sulfides
Kinetics
Operating costs
Process water
Pyrite
Slurries
Slurry reactors
Sulfates
Sulfides - analysis
Sulfides - economics
Sulfur
Sulfur - analysis
Sulfur - economics
Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria - metabolism
Use of microorganisms or biopolymers in fossil fuel recovery
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Summary:The sulfur found in coal is either part of the molecular coal structure (organically bound sulfur), is contained in minerals such as pyrite (FeS2), or occurs in minor quantities in the form of sulfate and elemental sulfur. When pyrite crystals are finely distributed within the coal matrix, mechanical cleaning can only remove part of the pyrite. It can, however, be removed by microbial action requiring only mild conditions. The process involves simple equipment, almost no chemicals, but relatively long reaction times, and treatment of iron sulfate containing process water. Different process configurations are possible, depending on the coal particle size. Coal with particle sizes of less than 0.5 mm is preferably desulfurised in slurry reactors, while lump coal (> 0.5 mm) should be treated in heaps. Investment and operating costs are estimated for different process configurations on an industrial scale. Concerning the organically bound sulfur in coal there is up to now no promising biochemical pathway for the degradation and/or desulfurisation of such compounds.
ISSN:0923-9820
1572-9729
DOI:10.1023/a:1008282216016