Biological degradation of low-rank coals
AssigneeTenfold Technologies, LLC
InventorsMichael K. Danquah, Robert D. Chisholm, Allana K. Welsh, Leslie M. Perry, Maud A. W. Hinchee, Smrithi Rajagopal, Josh J. Redublo
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Abstract
Methods and processes for producing aerobic digestion products, such as organic acids, from a low-rank coal substrate are provided. Also provided are multistage bioreactor systems for carrying out the described methods and processes. In another aspect, product compositions comprising organic acids produced by the described methods and processes are provided, as well as methods for their use, including for the improvement of soil quality and/or plant growth.
Claims26
A method of digesting a low-rank coal substrate in a multistage bioreactor system, the method comprising
- (a) combining a low-rank coal substrate, water, and rock phosphate to form an aqueous mixture;
- (b) digesting the low-rank coal substrate by incubating the aqueous mixture in a first bioreactor;
- (c) transferring at least a portion of the aqueous mixture from the first bioreactor to a second bioreactor;
- (d) further digesting the low-rank coal substrate by incubating the aqueous mixture in the second bioreactor,
- wherein the digesting of (b) and (d) produces digestion products of the low-rank coal substrate and the incubating of (b) and (d) produces a consortium of microbes capable of digesting low-rank coal;
- and
- (e) collecting the digestion products of (b) or (d), wherein the digestion products of (b) or (d) comprise humic acids and fulvic acids;
- and
- wherein the first bioreactor and second bioreactor are part of the multistage bioreactor system comprising two or more interconnected bioreactors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.