Methods and Systems For Biological Coal-to-Biofuels and Bioproducts

摘要

Methods and systems for the biological conversion of pretreated or solubilized coal or waste coal into biofuels. Coal (10) may be pretreated perhaps in a pretreatment reactor (13). Pretreated coal or even solubilized coal may be introduced into a processing reactor such as a bioreactor (16) containing a plurality of microorganisms (9) such as oleaginous microorganisms which can convert at least some of the pretreated or solubilized coal into lipids (19) or biomass (18), which then may be used directly or as a precursor for various products such as biofuels, feedstock, or the like.

主权项

1. A method for producing biofuel from coal comprising the steps of:
pretreating coal to provide solubilized coal; bioreacting said solubilized coal with at least one type of coal-utilizing bacteria; generating biomass and lipids from said step of bioreacting said solubilized coal with said at least one coal-utilizing bacteria; and converting said lipids into biofuel.