Bacterial removal of sulphur from three different coals

Three different types of coal were taken for microbial desulphurisation experiments using isolated cultures of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. The samples were milled and then sieved. The effect of various parameters on microbial desulphurisation of three different coals such as particle size, pH, pulp density, media composition and contact time was studied. The conditions were optimised for the maximum removal of sulphur (91.81 wt% for Rajasthan lignite, 63.17 wt% for Polish bituminous coal and only 9.41 wt% of Assam coal). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.