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Influence of cultural conditions on coal solubilization by Penicillium simplicissimum
Author(s) -
Achi Ome K.,
Emeruwa Augustine C.
Publication year - 1993
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.280570205
Subject(s) - chemistry , xylose , coal , maltose , fructose , nitric acid , yield (engineering) , nitrogen , lactose , food science , nuclear chemistry , bituminous coal , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , fermentation , sucrose , materials science , metallurgy
Sub‐bituminous coal, preoxidized with nitric acid and treated with sodium hydroxide solutions to obtain a water‐soluble extract, was used for the study of coal degradation by Penicillium simplicissimum. The influence of different carbon and nitrogen sources was examined in connection with growth and production of acid‐precipitable coal polymers. The yield was increased after the addition of maltose, lactose and cellobiose while glucose, fructose and xylose had little effect. An organic nitrogen source, yeast extract, was an improved source of nitrogen compared with ammonium chloride. The coal‐degrading system appeared before the depletion of the carbon or nitrogen source. In addition, the effects of initial pH of the culture medium demonstrated an increase in the yield of coal polymers up to a pH of 7.5. Above this pH, non‐biological catalysis increased gradually. However Ca 2+ and Mn 2+ increased the yield of coal polymers over a 14‐day period, but yield was unaffected by Cu 2+ , Al 3+ and Fe 2+ .