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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Commodity Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #173377
Title: REMOVAL OF MERCURY FROM COAL VIA MICROBIAL BIOLEACHING

Author
item BOROLE, ABHIJEET - OAK RIDGE NATL. LAB
item MCKEOWN, CATHERINE - OAK RIDGE NATL. LAB
item Klasson, K Thomas
item HAMILTON, CHOO - UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/6/2005
Publication Date: 5/1/2005
Citation: Borole, A.P., Mckeown, C.K., Klasson, K.T., Hamilton, C.Y. 2005. Removal of mercury from coal via microbial bioleaching (abstract). 27th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals. Paper No. 5-54.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A biological process for removal of mercury from coal is under investigation. Iron and sulfur oxidizing bacteria have previously been used for desulfurization of coal. We have shown that removal of mercury is also possible via the same principles. Two pure cultures, Leptospirillium ferrooxidans, Acidothiobacillus ferrooxidans and four environmental consortium samples obtained from acid mine drainage were studied for mercury removal from coal. Four different coal samples were examined. The results have shown that up to 20% of the mercury can be removed in batch cultures compared to control. Additional parameters, such as, media composition, pH and inoculum size were also studied. Preliminary results from a continuous system for mercury removal will also be presented.