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| Homogeneous polynucleotide displacement assay method kit and reagent complex |
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| Polyphosphoramidite oligomers and stabilizer compositions thereof |
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| Crosslinked copolymers of .alpha.,.beta.-olefinically unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydrides |
| What is claimed is: 1. A crosslinked copolymer comprising the following copolymerized units: A. 2.0 ... |
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| Effective hydrocarbon blend for removing asphaltenes from oil wells |
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| Highly activated mixtures for constructing load bearing surfaces and method of making the same |
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| Cycloaliphatic unsaturated ketones as odour- and taste-modifying agents |
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Biological production of humic acid and clean fuels from coal
| Details |
Inventors: Srivastava, Kailash Chandra; Walia, Daman S.;
Assignee: Arctech, Inc. (Chantilly, VA)
Primary Examiner: Lilling; Herbert J.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Browdy and Neimark
Coal is treated aerobically or anaerobically to produce humic acid, volatile fatty acids, lower alcohols, and/or methane using a consortium of bacteria designated Mic-1 or KSARC56. This process can also be used to convert aromatic compounds, such as phenols and derivatives thereof, to methane and carbon dioxide. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-noted deficiencies in the prior art.
It is an object of the present invention to produce humic acid from coal.
It is another object of the present invention to produce alcohols from coal.
It is another object of the present invention to produce methane from coal.
It is a further object of the present invention to produce volatile fatty acids from coal.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a consortium of microorganisms which react with coal to produce humic acid, methane, volatile fatty acids, and/or alcohols.
According to the present invention, coal is treated with a culture of microorganisms which act upon the coal to produce humic acids, methane, volatile fatty acids, and lower alcohols.
One of the cultures used for this process is designated Mic-1, ATCC 55801 which was isolated from the hind guts of soil eating termites (Zootermopsis sp) and further improved at ARCTECH, Inc.
This consortium of microorganisms was adapted via a step-wise process in which the culture was grown in increasing amounts of coal substrate.
This consortium has been found to reproducibly convert coal to a mixture of humic acid, methane, volatile fatty acids, and lower alcohols.
Alternatively, coal can be converted to humic acid under aerobic conditions using a thermophilic, aerobic culture designated KSARC56.
In this case the coal is cultured for about 48 hours at a temperature of up to about 60.
degree.
C.
To produce humic acid, alcohols, methane and volatile fatty acids from coal, the coal is preferably slurried with water and treated with the consortium Mic-1, ATCC 55801, with gentle mixing under anaerobic conditions.
The concentration of bacteria in the process ranges from about 1 to about 20% by weight of the mixture of coal, water, and bacteria.
The concentration of coal in the mixture can range from about 0.
01% by weight to about 50% by weight of the mixture.
The process of the present invention yielded nearly a 95% conversion of coal to humic acids
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Molecular Biology 
