Microbial desulfurization of low-grade Balochistan coal using Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus pumilus.
Naeem A, Ahmed M, Asadullah, Khan J, Qaisrani ZN
Bioremediation
Coal plant emissions drift far beyond the smokestacks — the sulfur dioxide that scrubbing doesn't catch falls as acid rain on forests, gardens, and watersheds hundreds of miles downwind, quietly acidifying the soil your native ferns and blueberries depend on.
High-sulfur coal is a major pollution problem, but washing out sulfur using bacteria — instead of harsh chemicals — is a gentler option. Scientists collected bacteria straight from a coal mine in Pakistan and tested their ability to 'eat' sulfur out of crushed coal. After two weeks, one of the bacteria removed over 40% of the sulfur, making the coal much cleaner to burn.
Key Findings
Bacillus licheniformis removed up to 41.06% of sulfur from coal particles at 75 µm size after 14 days of incubation.
Smaller coal particle size (75 µm vs. 150 µm) and longer incubation (14 vs. 7 days) both increased sulfur removal efficiency.
Microbial treatment also increased the calorific (energy) value of the coal, improving its quality as a fuel.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Researchers used bacteria naturally found in a Pakistani coal mine to remove sulfur from low-grade coal before burning it, reducing the pollution it would otherwise produce. The approach removed up to 41% of sulfur using locally sourced microbes, offering a cleaner way to use a fuel that would otherwise be too dirty to burn responsibly.
Abstract Preview
Coal is an abundant source of energy; however, the use of Pakistani coal is limited due to its high sulfur content, which causes environmental and health issues. Hence, pre-combustion desulfurizati...
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