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.
Claims18
A method for producing low-rank coal aerobic digestion products and a consortium of low-rank coal-degrading microbes, the method comprising:
- a) combining a low-rank coal substrate, water, a rock phosphate, and yeast to form an aqueous mixture;
- b) incubating the aqueous mixture within a container to produce the low-rank coal aerobic digestion products and the consortium of low-rank coal-degrading microbes, wherein the low-rank coal aerobic digestion products are produced by a population of microorganisms that naturally reside in or on the low-rank coal substrate, and wherein no exogenous low-rank coal degrading microorganisms are added to the aqueous mixture;
- c) collecting a portion of the aqueous mixture comprising the low-rank coal aerobic digestion products and the consortium of low-rank coal-degrading microbes to produce a collected aqueous mixture;
- and
- d) re-introducing at least a portion of the collected aqueous mixture comprising the low-rank coal aerobic digestion products and the consortium of low-rank coal-degrading microbes to the container to enrich the population of microorganisms that naturally reside in or on the low-rank coal substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.