Desulphurization of medium sulphur Waterberg steam coal in a batch operated scale : microbial solution
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Date
Authors
Makgato, Stanford S.
Chirwa, Evans M.N.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Italian Association of Chemical Engineering
Abstract
The current study evaluates pre-combustion microbial desulphurization of medium – sulphur type coal
containing total sulphur (1.45 wt.%) and pyritic sulphur (≥ 0.51 wt. %) in a laboratory scale. Coal samples used
in the current study were supplied by one of South African Power Utility, Eskom power station as received
from the nearby Waterberg coalfield in Limpopo in South Africa. Coal samples were size fractioned using 13.2,
9.5, 8.0, 6.3, 5.6, 4.7, 2.36, 2.00, 1.00, 0.85 mm and below using automatic screens shaker. Coal sample
containing particle size in the range of − 0.85 mm was used in the experiments with bacteria isolated from the
native coal mine site. After a stipulated hydraulic retention time (HRT), the coal samples were filtered, washed,
dried and used for total sulphur and calorific value analysis. The calorific value of the coal significantly
improved from 20.42 MJ/Kg to 24.16 MJ/Kg on the 5th day.The process removed up to 41% of the total
sulphur content in the coal samples at a HRT of 8 days. This study provides a novel breakthrough of an
alternative microbial desulphurization process of Waterberg steam coal as a further pre-treatment technique in
order to meet stringent environmental emissions standards for SO2.
Description
Keywords
Eskom power station, Waterberg coalfield, Coal, Limpopo, South Africa, Coal combustion, Sulphur, Pre-treatment, Pre-combustion, Power utility, Hydraulic retention time, Environmental emissions, Desulphurization process, Desulphurization, Particle size, Coal mines, Coal deposits, Calorific value, Hydraulic retention time (HRT)
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Makgato S., Chirwa E., 2018, Desulphurization of medium sulphur waterberg steam coal in a batch operated scale: microbial solution, Chemical Engineering Transactions, 64, 523-528, DOI: 10.3303/CET1864088.