Exploring Coal Biodesulfurization Potential of a Novel Organic Sulfur Metabolizing Rhodococcus spp. (Eu-32) – A Case Study

Coal is one of the most abundant nonrenewable fossil fuels, in Pakistan. However, in general, the quality of coal is too low to offset the practical, economic, and regulatory barriers to its utilization. High sulfur content comes up as one of the bottlenecks in productive usage of indigenous coal. Biotechnology can emerge as a panacea for upgrading the huge reserves of high sulfur coal. In current study, the sulfur removal potential of Rhodococcus spp. (Eu-32) was investigated using coal from Dukki, Baluchistan, Pakistan. Biodesulfurization process was optimized for various parameters and maximum decrease of 40% and 60% in total and organic sulfur contents, respectively were achieved in 15 days. The Langmuir and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface areas of the biotreated coal were increased by 20 and 16 times, respectively. Scanning electron microscope showed higher tendency of attachment of bacterial cells to the coal particles. Our results revealed that Eu-32 could remove significant amounts of organic sulfur from coal and could be used in the pre-combustion operations with appropriate arrangements.     

Degradation of low rank coal by Trichoderma atroviride ES11

A new isolate of Trichoderma atroviride has been shown to grow on low rank coal as the sole carbon source. T. atroviride ES11 degrades approximately 82% of particulate coal (10 g l(-1)) over a period of 21 days with 50% reduction in 6 days. Glucose (5 g l(-1)) as a supplemented carbon source enhanced the coal solubilisation efficiency of T. atroviride ES11, while 10 and 20 g l(-1) glucose decrease coal solubilisation efficiency. Addition of nitrogen [1 g l(-1) (NH(4))(2)SO(4)] to the medium also increased the coal solubilisation efficiency of T. atroviride ES11. Assay results from coal-free and coal-supplemented cultures suggested that several intracellular enzymes are possibly involved in coal depolymerisation processes some of which are constitutive (phenol hydroxylase) and others that were activated or induced in the presence of coal (2,3-dihydrobiphenyl-2,3-diol dehydrogenase, 3,4-dihydro phenanthrene-3,4-diol dehydrogenase, 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene dehydrogenase, 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxyanthracene dehydrogenase). GC-MS analysis of chloroform extracts obtained from coal degrading T. atroviride ES11 cultures showed the formation of only a limited number of specific compounds (4-hydroxyphenylethanol, 1,2-benzenediol, 2-octenoic acid), strongly suggesting that the intimate association between coal particles and fungal mycelia results in rapid and near-quantitative transfer of coal depolymerisation products into the cell.     

徐州王庄煤矿山西组孢粉植物群及其地层意义

徐州王庄煤矿山西组中、下部产有丰富的孢粉化石,保存完好,共计55属132种（包括3新种）2个未定型孢子及1个疑源类未定类型。根据孢粉属种组成及其含量的变化,自下而上分为两套组合：Cyclogranisporites-Gulisporites-Laevigatosporites-Florinites组合（简称组合1）和Calamospora-Gulisporites-Vesiculatisporites-Florinites组合（简称组合2）。根据组合内一些重要分子的地质时限讨论及其与相关组合的对比,将组合1的地质时代归为早二叠世早期,组合2的时代归为早二叠世晚期。文中描述孢子3新种,图示孢子花粉91种。     

The neutralization of acidic coal mine lakes by additions of natural organic matter: a mesocosm test

Cylindrical polyethylene enclosures 3 m in length and 1 m in diameter reaching from the surface to the bottom were constructed in an acid (pH=3.1) lake on a coal surface mine in southern Illinois. Wheat straw was added to the enclosures to test the effects of dissimilatory sulfate reduction on water chemistry. Added straw increased sulfide concentrations, raised pH to 6.5, reduced O₂ and increased acid neutralizing capacity of the enclosed water columns when compared with a control enclosure and with the open lake. Generation of acid neutralizing capacity exceeded the standing stock of sulfide indicating that sulfide was removed either by precipitation of FeS or outgassing of H₂S. The pH and acid neutralizing capacity within the enclosures eventually returned to the level of the surrounding lake because of water exchange around the enclosure walls. Our results show that additions of organic matter to acid surface mine lakes result in the generation of acid neutralizing capacity.     

Isolation of Coal Degrading Fungus from Drilled Core Coal Sample and Effect of Prior Fungal Pretreatment on Chemical Attributes of Extracted Humic Acid

Fungal degradation of low rank coal has appeared as an alternative technique for exploitation of non-fuel options. A fungal isolate, MW1, was isolated and coal sample was subjected to fungal pretreatment. The residual coal was processed for extraction of humic acid for determining the effect of such pretreatment. Extracted humic acid was analyzed on the basis of elemental composition and spectroscopy. Fungal pretreatment caused improvement in oxygen content, E₄/E₆ ratio, and absorption bands related to humic materials. Conclusively, pretreatment resulted in improving chemical attributes of humic acid molecule, thus, warranting supplementary high-tech investigations for the optimization of process upscale.     

采煤塌陷区不同地貌类型植物群落多样性变化及其与土壤理化性质的关系

通过对神府-东胜矿区2种不同地貌类型下沉陷样地及对照样地地表植被进行调查,研究不同地貌类型、不同沉陷位置的群落多样性变化及其与土壤理化性质的关系。研究结果表明:(1)哈拉沟矿区(黄土丘陵地貌)植物种类较丰富,大柳塔矿区(风沙地貌)植被种类较单一;达乌里胡枝子作为风沙地貌沉陷区指示物种,其演替机制符合忍耐作用理论,紫翅猪毛菜作为黄土丘陵沟壑地貌沉陷区指示物种,其演替机制是促进理论和竞争共同作用的结果。(2)沉陷干扰12a后,2个研究区Shannon-Wiener指数分别增加了54.60%,73.85%,风沙地貌研究区土壤含水量和脲酶活性分别增加了8.64%和57.14%,黄土丘陵沟壑地貌研究区土壤有机质增加了47.73%。(3)采煤塌陷后,风沙地貌矿区坡中位置过氧化氢酶活性下降63.50%,土壤体积含水量降低58.70%,植物群落多样性显著降低;坡底位置土壤含水量、土壤养分、植物群落多样性均显著提高,土壤理化性质和植物群落多样性变化协同一致。(4)风沙地貌区植物群落多样性与土壤含水量存在显著正相关关系,黄土丘陵沟壑地貌区植物群落多样性与土壤有机质含量存在显著负相关关系。     

A Novel Approach for Bioleaching of Sulfur,Iron, and Silica Impurities from Coal by Growing and Resting Cells of Rhodococcus spp

Coal is one of the most important sources of fossil energy on earth. However, direct combustion of coal with a high sulfur content can cause various environmental problems. Other constituents of coal that can cause environmental problems include iron oxide (hematite), iron hydroxide, and silica. In this study, growing and resting cells of Rhodococcus erythropolis strains PD1, R1, and FMF, and R. qingshengii were used in heterotrophic removal of sulfur and bioleaching of iron and silica from coal. All of the mentioned strains have an ability of dibenzothiophene (DBT) desulfurization via 4-S pathway. 2-hydroxybiphenyl, sulfate, and ferric ions (Fe³⁺) were assayed by Gibb’s test, barium chloride (BaCl₂), and thiocyanate ions (SCN^?), respectively. FTIR and XRF analyzer were used for detection of the coal bioleaching process by the selected strain of R. erythropolis (PD1). Results indicated that all strains have the ability to grow on coal as the sulfur source. Among them, strain PD1 produced the highest optical density and continued to grow even after 150-h incubation. In both growing- and resting-cells experiments, strain PD1 desulfurized coal most readily compared to other strains. Results of XRF showed that growing cells of strain PD1 had high desulfurizing ability of coal (46%) compared to resting cells in the absence of any carbon sources (24%). Growing cells of strain PD1 also leached 46% of the iron and 14% of the silicate after 7?days of incubation. Resting cells of PD1 leached 32% of the iron as determined by XRF analysis. Also, growing cells of PD1 removed most SiO₂ from coal as detected and confirmed by FTIR and XRF. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on bioleaching of iron and silica from coal by R. erythropolis strain PD1, making it a suitable candidate for coal bioremediation.     

Soil Algae in Brown Coal and Lignite Post-Mining Areas in Central Europe (Czech Republic and Germany)

Algal communities were investigated in two contrasting chronosequences established on reclaimed spoils in the west Bohemian brown coal mining district near Sokolov (Czech Republic) and in the Lusatian lignite mining district near Cottbus (Germany). The Sokolov chronosequence was characterized by tertiary cypric clay substrate, afforestation with Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn., and high pH of deposited spoil material, Cottbus chronosequence by tertiary carboniferous and pyritic sand of extremely low pH ameliorated by fly ash, and afforestation with Pinus sylvestris L. and P. nigra Arnold. A total of 122 species of algae was found in both areas. Although the same species number (80) was identified from Sokolov and Cottbus, both proportion of individual algal groups and species composition were different. Green algae prevailed in both areas, but in Sokolov cyanobacteria and diatoms were also quite diverse, and in younger sites they were also abundant. Total abundance of algae ranged mostly between 10⁴–10⁷ cells/g dry soil, and was one order higher in Cottbus than in Sokolov. Species number was high in young sites, decreased with increasing age, and was the lowest in control forests. In Sokolov, the highest abundance was recorded in the youngest alder plantation. In Cottbus, sludge and compost fertilization used in the youngest pine plantations resulted in rapid formation of visible algal crusts dominated by Klebsormidium crenulatum (Kütz) Lokhorst.