Coal biocatalyst

In a patent on biological desulfurization [100] of petroleum/coal, only the use of whole cell biocatalysts was claimed. The biocatalysts included microorganisms belonging to the genus Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Enterobacter, Aeromonas, Bacillus or Corynebacterium. The desulfurization pathway (sulfur-specific vs. destructive) was not specified. The Japanese patents No. JP2071936C and JP7103379B seem to be equivalent patents. 

Shell s microbiological desulfurization process is carried out by mixing coal with an aqueous biocatalyst solution [158], The coal considered in this invention concerns bituminous coal containing inorganic sulfur (pyritic).This process seems to be applicable to refinery pet-coke, which contains sulfur in the form of inorganic sulfides. Nowadays, when coke has become one of the major products of heavy oil and bitumens refining, such desulfurization processes might have potential uses. 

In the field of bioremediation, oxidoreductases are considered to be excellent biocatalysts for environmentally friendly processes. Laccases and peroxidases are widely used to treat effluents from pulp/cotton mills, food/fruit processing plants and breweries [1, 2, 37]. Laccases, peroxidases and other oxygenases are also being studied for their abihty to degrade hazardous coal substances, especially the sulfur-containing components, and in the treatment of industrial waste and contaminated soil and water in the transformation of xenobiotics, polycycHc aromatic hydrocarbons and other pollutants (biodetoxification and biodecontamination)... 

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