Modelling and development of technological processes for low rank coal bio-utilization on the example of brown coal

Abstract

This paper described research into the biochemical processes of brown coal treatment. During the experimental research, chromatography was used for assesment of the composition of biogas, and its volume was measured by displacing a liquid column by gas. Taxonomic classification was carried out using electronic bioinformatic databases. The modified biochemical model was formed from a complex biological treatment of low-rank coals with an added cycle of aerobic conversion and the process of converting a sulphur compound under anaerobic conditions, as well as a number of ecological-trophic groups of microorganisms. Archaebacteria were determined under carbonate respiration processing during methanogenesis. Such methanogenic archaea include the genera Methanobacterium, Methanococcus and Methanosarcina. Biogas yield stabilized at 0.28 Nml/g of brown coal, which characterizes the steady-state growth phase of methanogenic association in the bioreactor space on days 13–15. Maximum biogas combustion heat was achieved by its purification from hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide gas to biomethane. The technological features for bioprocessing low-rank coal were formed for potential implementation in brown coal bio-utilization.