MECHANISMS OF BIOLOGICALLY-MEDIATED METHANE EVOLUTION FROM BLACK COAL

The use of anaerobic microbial consortia for the reduction of processi ng waste resulting from black coal mining operations was investigated. The biological production of methane (CH4) from coal refuse as well a s from raw coal was considered as a potential method for gaseous fuel production. The reduction in the mass of the coal substrate at the com pletion of gas evolution was approximately 4%. Based on theoretical pr ediction however, the observed CH4 may not have been derived from the bioconversion of the coal molecule. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.