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Sulfur removal from coal through multiphase media containing biocatalysts
Author(s) -
Lee KwangIl,
Yen Teh Fu
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.280480107
Subject(s) - chemistry , emulsion , sulfur , micelle , bioprocess , flue gas desulfurization , coal , biocatalysis , chemical engineering , pulmonary surfactant , critical micelle concentration , chromatography , waste management , organic chemistry , aqueous solution , catalysis , ionic liquid , biochemistry , engineering
A novel bioprocess using micelle biocatalysts was developed to minimize several disadvantages of conventional microbial coal desulfurization processes. The multiphase biocatalysis process consists of an organic medium (mineral oil or a mixture with n‐heptane), a surfactant and an aqueous phase containing Thiobacillus ferrooxidans organisms or their cell‐free enzyme extracts. Water‐in‐oil emulsion and reverse micelle processes have been successful for removing sulfur from bituminous coal. The preliminary results indicated that, in the case of water‐in‐oil emulsion, the process that used the cell‐free enzyme extracts of T. ferrooxidans showed higher sulfur reduction than that containing whole cells, and reverse micells were more effective than water‐in‐oil emulsion. With a high concentration of bacteria, more than 50% total sulfur removal was achieved through the reverse micelle system. These results indicate that multiphase biocatalysis may have a significant potential for developing biotechnical coal desulfurization processes.