Microbial removal of organic sulfur from coal (bacterial degradation of sulfur-containing heterocyclic compounds). Final report, January 1, 1989-August 31, 1990.

摘要

The presence of substantial levels of sulfur in coal is a major source of air pollution, and considerable efforts are being made to devise a cost-effective way of removing the sulfur. One method is to mutate a laboratory species, Escherichia coli, an organism which is genetically well-understood and whose pathways for the metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids have been extensively investigated. Such thiophene degraders can be genetically analyzed and the genes involved can be cloned in order to amplify their products. A second approach is the development of naturally occurring bacteria capable of thiophene desulfurization. Characterization of the degradation of model compounds, enhancement of the desulfurization potential of the isolated strains via mutagenesis, and studies with crushed coal will comprise the approach used in this study. The screening of soil isolates for the potential to desulfurize thiophenic and other sources of organic sulfur will identify the best strains for the microbial removal of organic sulfur from coal. Ultimately, the genes responsible for thiophene degradation by the isolated strains will be transferred to an E. coli strain, creating a single organism capable of degrading a broad spectrum of thiophene compounds. 24 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.