Microbial production of methane and carbon dioxide from lignite, bituminous coal, and coal waste materials

Characterizing microbial communities dedicated for conversion of coal to methane in situ and ex situ

“…We strongly agree with the statement given by Opara et al (2012) that an aerotolerant microbial consortium is a crucial element for large scale application of bioconversion of coal to methane. The statement is true for two scenarios: 1) injection of a microbial consortium to coal mines where indigenous microbial community is either unable or has limited capability to produce methane from coal; and 2) conversion of mined out coal or coal waste to methane ex situ.…”

“…The majority of studies on this aspect have been conducted in a strictly anaerobic environment with coal and the microbial community handled in a glove box (Green et al, 2008;Harding et al, 1993;Jones et al, 2010;Papendick et al, 2011). The only exception is the one reported by Opara et al (2012) where both coal and the microbial inoculum were exposed to air during sample collection, transfer and handling. But even with air exposure, the methane production rate of 73.1 ft 3 /ton/day was the highest among bituminous coals.…”

Pilot Test of a Fermentation Tank for Producing Coal Methane through Anaerobic Fermentation

“…The defect of the small-sample static test is that the designed conditions are the initial conditions, which cannot be varied based on the reaction effects. The production scale is small and cannot meet the requirements of a commercialization test (Faison et al 1992;He et al 2007;Hu et al 2009;Ijaz & Yasin 2017;Li et al 2001;Pan et al 2009;Opara et al 2012;Roslee et al 2017;Sharma et al 1988;Su et al 2013b).…”

Development of a microbial process for methane generation from bituminous coal at thermophilic conditions

“…Microbial enhanced CBM, through bio-augmentation of selected microbes or by stimulation of indigenous microbes by adding nutrients, has the potential to produce methane from coal and also increases reservoir permeability via the microbial consumption of coal, waxes and paraffin (Scott, 1999). Enhancement of biogenic methane production from different ranks of coal in situ or ex situ has been explored by a number of investigators in recent years using a variety of nutrient combinations (Harris et al, 2008;Hendry and Midgley, 2014;Jones et al, 2008Jones et al, , 2010Opara et al, 2012;Pfeiffer et al, 2010;Strapoc et al, 2008;Strąpoc et al, 2011).…”