Coal Liquefaction by Streptomyces

本研究建议研究链霉菌在煤液化中的潜在用途（链霉菌是一种活微生物，以其产生抗生素的能力而闻名）。该研究将试图更好地了解决定酶动力学的速率，运输步骤和煤液化的最佳环境条件，利用三相（固体，液体，气体）喷雾浆反应器进行研究。磨细的褐煤将被送入含有水和必需营养物质的反应器。反应器将被消毒，然后接种活跃和密集的链霉菌物种，以及多余的空气。主要的操纵变量是pH值、氧和粒度。质谱将用于分析微生物生物量、产物浓度和关键酶。煤是最大的能源之一。然而，液体燃料的能源需求最大。煤液化的化学和热处理需要极端的温度、压力和化学环境。已经确定了几种能够在煤上生长并降解煤的真菌。然而，煤的增溶过程尚不清楚，产物也没有很好的表征。这是一个高风险/高回报的项目，其中可以开发生产新型芳香化学品或聚合物或将固体燃料转化为液体燃料的工艺。已经进行了初步研究，证明了褐煤在摇瓶中完全液化。链霉菌的选择提高了该项目成功的概率。

This study proposes to investigate the potential use of streptomyces to accomplish coal liquefaction, (streptomyces is a living microorgranism best known for its ability to produce antibiotics). The research will attempt to understand better the rate determining enzyme kinetics, transport steps and the optimum environmental conditions for coal liquefaction utilizing a three phase (solid, liquid, gas) sparged slurry reactor for the investigation. Finely ground lignite coal will be fed to the reactor containing water and essential nutrients. The reactor will be sterilized and then inoculated with an active and dense culture of streptomyces species along with an excess air. The principal manipulated variables will be pH, oxygen, and particle size. Mass spectroscopy will be used to analyze for microbial biomass, product concentration and key enzymes. Coal is one of the largest sources of energy. However, energy demand is greatest for liquid fuels. Chemical and thermal processing for coal liquefaction require extreme conditions of temperature, pressure and chemical environment. Several species of fungi have been identified that are capable of growing on and degrading coal. However, the process of coal solubilization is not understood and the products have not been well characterized. This is a high risk/high return project in which processes could be developed for the production of novel aromatic chemicals or polymers or for the conversion of solid to liquid fuel. Initial studies have already been carried out demonstrating complete liquefaction of liqnite coal in shake flasks. The selection of streptomyces enhances the probability of success of this project.