Microbial Desulfurization of Coals in a Slurry Pipeline Reactor Using. Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

Microbial desulfurization of Illinois #6 and Indiana #3 bituminous coal having a total sulfur content of 2 to 8% has been investigated using acidophilic microorganism, Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, in laboratory shake flash experiments and in a two-inch pipeline loop. The results indicate that about 80 to 85% pyritic sulfur removal was achieved with 10 to 25% coal/water slurry recirculated at 6-7 ft/sec at room temperature in 7 to 14 days. The experimental conditions have been optimized for maximum desulfurization. Results from this study show that the rates of bacterial desulfurization from coal samples are higher in the pipeline loop under turbulent flow conditions as compared to the shake-flask experiments for particle sizes ranging from 43 to 200 mum. It is visualized that the proposed coal slurry pipelines could be used as biological plug flow reactors under aerobic conditions. The laboratory corrosion studies under dynamic test conditions show that use of a corrosion inhibitor will limit the pipeline corrosion rate to acceptable levels.