Biological attack of pyrite is a potential method of reducing pyritic sulphur in coal. Integration of such attacks with microwave pretreatment can enhance the efficiency of the process. Alternatively, processes such as oil-agglomeration can be coupled with the biological attack to obtain higher rates of pyritic sulphur removal. In this study desulphurization of Indian (Assam) coal was carried o...

When the strictly autotrophic bacterium Thiobacillus thiooxidans was grown on sulfur, keto acids accumulated in the medium until they reached an inhibitory level at which growth ceased. Much greater growth was possible if these substances were continually dialyzed out of the medium.

As part of a study on the assimilation of organic compounds by autotrophic microorganisms, enrichment cultures were set up for thiobacilli. A facultatively autotrophic Thiobacillus was isolated in pure culture and grew heterotrophically on many organic compounds including p-hydroxybenzoate (PHBz). Since degradation of aromatic compounds is carried out by a limited range of bacterial genera, the...