Faculty Publications

Regulation of Coal Polymer Degradation by Fungi. Ninth Quarterly Report.

Document Type

Report

Journal/Book/Conference Title

United States Department of Energy

First Page

1

Last Page

12

Abstract

Several investigations have demonstrated that oxalate anion secreted by fungi is able to mediate solubilization of Ieonardite, a highly oxidized lignite. During this reporting period, we have used a biomimetic approach to study oxalate mediated solubilization of several Argonne Premium Coals. Results showed that, relative to Ieonardite, oxalate solubilized minimal amounts of these coals. Other studies showed that pH has a dramatic effect on solubilization of Ieonardite by several Lewis bases. In general, solubilization appeared to be a function of ionization of the Lewis base. Coal solubilization is estimated by an increase in the visible spectrum of aqueous solutions containing coal and a solubilizing agent. Because Ieonardite solubilization was studied over a broad pH range, it was necessary to determine if pH has a substantial effect on the absorbance of soluble coal macromolecule. Results showed that absorbance at 600 nm increased by {approx}56% between pH 4.5 and pH 12.0. Clearly, this increase must be considered when interpreting coal solubilization data. The decolonization of soluble coal macromolecule in nutrient nitrogen limited cultures of Phanerochaete chrysosporium was also studied. In stationary and agitated cultures, respectively, 83.8% {+-} 2.3% and 89.6% {+-} 1.0% of the coal macromolecule was decolorized during 8 days of incubation.

Department

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Original Publication Date

12-1-1996

DOI of published version

10.2172/16009

Link to Full Text

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