Microbial process for producing methane from coal
AssigneeReliant Energy Incorporated
InventorsWilliam M. Menger, Ernest E. Kern, O. C. Karkalits, Donald L. Wise, Alfred P. Leuschner, David Odelson, Hans E. Grethlein
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Lignite is treated with ligninase source to enhance its reactivity. In one embodiment, lignite is gasified in a subterranean reactor by simultaneous digestion by anaerobic ligninase producers, such as termite microflora, and acid formers and methanogens. In another embodiment, the lignite is treated with ligninase prior to digestion by the acid formers and methanogens. If desired, the lignite may be pretreated by alkaline hydrolysis.
Claims9
A method for producing methane from coal comprising:
- homogenizing termite digestive tracts to produce a homogenate;
- incubating a coal substrate in an incubation medium comprising said homogenate and methanogens, said methanogens selected from the group consisting of methanogens of the homogenate and exogenous methanogens under anaerobic conditions sufficient to generate methane;
- and
- recovering methane from said incubation medium.
A method for producing methane from coal comprising:
- homogenizing termite digestive tracts to produce a homogenate;
- culturing said homogenate in bacterial enrichment medium to produce homogenate-derived microflora;
- incubating a coal substrate in an incubation medium containing said homogenate-derived microflora under conditions sufficient to generate methane;
- and
- recovering methane from said incubation medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.