Microbial desulfurization is a process that uses microorganisms like bacteria and fungi to remove sulfur from coal. This helps reduce sulfur dioxide emissions that are harmful to the environment and human health. Researchers in India have identified microbes that can remove up to 90% of sulfur from coal. However, challenges remain around optimizing environmental conditions and reducing costs. Further research and advances in technology could help overcome these challenges and make microbial desulfurization a viable alternative to traditional coal desulfurization methods.

1. MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION OF COAL

2. CONTENT
 INTRODUCTION
 WHAT IS MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION OF COAL
 WHY IS MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION OF COAL
IMPORTANT
 TYPES OF MICROORGANISMS USED IN MICROBIAL
DESULFURIZATION
 CHALLENGES AND LIMITATIONS OF MICROBIAL
DESULFURIZATION
 MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION OF COAL IN INDIA AND
FOREIGN COUNTRIES
 CONCLUSION

3. INTRODUCTION
 MY PRESENTATION ON MICROBIAL
DESULFURIZATION OF COAL. IN THIS
PRESENTATION WE WILL EXPLORE THE CONCEPT
OF MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION AND ITS
IMPORTANCE IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY.
 COAL IS AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF ENERGY
FOR MANY COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.
HOWEVER BURNING COAL RELEASES HARMFUL
POLLUTANTS INCLUDING SULFUR DIOXIDE
WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO AIR POLLUTION AND
ACID RAIN. MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION
OFFERS A SUSTAINABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL COAL
DESULFURIZATION METHODS.

4. WHAT IS MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION OF
COAL
 MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION OF COAL IS A
PROCESS THAT USES MICROORGANISMS TO
REMOVE SULFUR FROM COAL. THE
MICROORGANISMS BREAK DOWN THE SULFUR
COMPOUNDS IN THE COAL INTO HARMLESS
BYPRODUCTS LIKE SULFATES AND ELEMENTAL
SULFUR.
 THE PROCESS INVOLVES EXPOSING THE COAL TO
A CULTURE OF MICROORGANISMS UNDER
CONTROLLED CONDITIONS LIKE TEMPERATURE
PH AND OXYGEN LEVELS. THE MICROORGANISMS
CONSUME THE SULFUR-CONTAINING
COMPOUNDS IN THE COAL AND CONVERT THEM
INTO OTHER FORMS WHICH CAN BE EASILY
REMOVED.

5. WHY IS MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION OF
COAL IMPORTANT
 MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION OF COAL HAS
SEVERAL ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS. BY REMOVING
SULFUR FROM COAL THE PROCESS REDUCES SULFUR
DIOXIDE EMISSIONS WHICH ARE A MAJOR
CONTRIBUTOR TO AIR POLLUTION AND ACID RAIN.
THIS IN TURN IMPROVES AIR QUALITY AND
REDUCES THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF COAL BURNING
ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
 IN ADDITION MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION OFFERS
A SUSTAINABLE AND COST-EFFECTIVE
ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL COAL
DESULFURIZATION METHODS. IT IS ALSO A SAFER
PROCESS AS IT DOES NOT INVOLVE THE USE OF
HARMFUL CHEMICALS OR PRODUCE TOXIC WASTE.

6. TYPES OF MICROORGANISMS USED IN
MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION
o THERE ARE TWO MAIN TYPES OF MICROORGANISMS
USED IN MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION: BACTERIA AND
FUNGI. BACTERIA ARE THE MOST COMMONLY USED
MICROORGANISMS AS THEY ARE EASIER TO CULTURE
AND HAVE A FASTER GROWTH RATE. FUNGI ON THE
OTHER HAND ARE MORE COMPLEX AND REQUIRE MORE
SPECIALIZED CONDITIONS FOR GROWTH.
o BOTH TYPES OF MICROORGANISMS PLAY AN
IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE PROCESS OF MICROBIAL
DESULFURIZATION. THEY BREAK DOWN SULFUR-
CONTAINING COMPOUNDS IN THE COAL AND
CONVERT THEM INTO HARMLESS BYPRODUCTS.
HOWEVER EACH TYPE HAS ITS OWN ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES WHICH MUST BE CONSIDERED WHEN
SELECTING THE APPROPRIATE MICROORGANISM FOR
THE PROCESS.

7. THE PROCESS OF MICROBIAL
DESULFURIZATION
 MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION INVOLVES SEVERAL
STEPS. FIRST, THE FUEL IS MIXED WITH WATER AND
NUTRIENTS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS
SUITABLE FOR THE BACTERIA. THE BACTERIA ARE
THEN ADDED TO THE MIXTURE AND ALLOWED TO
GROW AND MULTIPLY. AS THE BACTERIA GROW,
THEY BEGIN TO BREAK DOWN THE SULFUR-
CONTAINING COMPOUNDS IN THE FUEL.
 THE NEXT STEP IS TO SEPARATE THE BACTERIA FROM
THE FUEL. THIS CAN BE DONE THROUGH A VARIETY
OF METHODS, SUCH AS CENTRIFUGATION OR
FILTRATION. ONCE THE BACTERIA HAVE BEEN
REMOVED, THE FUEL IS LEFT WITH SIGNIFICANTLY
REDUCED LEVELS OF SULFUR. THIS PROCESS IS
HIGHLY EFFICIENT AND CAN REMOVE UP TO 99% OF
SULFUR FROM FUELS.

8. APPLICATIONS OF MICROBIAL
DESULFURIZATION
 MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION HAS POTENTIAL
APPLICATIONS IN SEVERAL INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING
THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY AND THE
TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY. IN THE PETROLEUM
INDUSTRY, MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION CAN BE
USED TO REMOVE SULFUR FROM CRUDE OIL, MAKING
IT EASIER TO REFINE AND REDUCING THE AMOUNT
OF SULFUR IN THE FINAL PRODUCT.
 IN THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY, MICROBIAL
DESULFURIZATION CAN BE USED TO REDUCE SULFUR
EMISSIONS FROM VEHICLES. BY REMOVING SULFUR
FROM FUELS, WE CAN REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF
HARMFUL POLLUTANTS RELEASED INTO THE AIR.
THIS CAN HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON AIR
QUALITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

9. MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION PROCESS IN
INDIA
 INDIA HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN
THE FIELD OF MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION
OF COAL. RESEARCHERS HAVE IDENTIFIED
VARIOUS MICROORGANISMS THAT CAN
EFFECTIVELY REMOVE SULFUR FROM COAL,
SUCH AS RHODOCOCCUS ERYTHROPOLIS AND
BACILLUS SUBTILIS. THESE MICROBES HAVE
SHOWN GREAT POTENTIAL IN REMOVING UP
TO 90% OF THE SULFUR CONTENT FROM
COAL. IN ADDITION, INDIAN RESEARCHERS
HAVE ALSO DEVELOPED A PROCESS CALLED
THE THIOBACILLUS FERROOXIDANS METHOD
WHICH USES BACTERIA TO OXIDIZE SULFUR
COMPOUNDS IN COAL.

10.  The use of microbial desulfurization technology in India has the potential to
significantly reduce sulfur emissions from coal-fired power plants. This not only
helps to improve air quality but also reduces the negative impact of sulfur emissions
on human health. As India continues to rely heavily on coal for its energy needs, the
development and implementation of microbial desulfurization technology is critical
for the country's sustainable growth.

11. CHALLENGES AND LIMITATIONS OF
MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION
MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION OFFERS
SEVERAL ADVANTAGES OVER
TRADITIONAL COAL DESULFURIZATION
METHODS IT ALSO FACES SEVERAL
CHALLENGES AND LIMITATIONS. ONE
OF THE MAIN CHALLENGES IS THE NEED
FOR OPTIMAL CONDITIONS LIKE
TEMPERATURE PH AND OXYGEN LEVELS
FOR THE MICROORGANISMS TO GROW
AND FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY.

12. Another limitation is the cost-effectiveness of the process it requires specialized
equipment and skilled personnel to operate. However with advancements in technology
and research these challenges can be overcome making microbial desulfurization a viable
alternative to traditional coal desulfurization methods.

13. MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION OF COAL IN
INDIA AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES
 INDIA IS ONE OF THE LARGEST COAL PRODUCERS IN
THE WORLD AND THEREFORE IT FACES A MAJOR
CHALLENGE IN REDUCING SULFUR EMISSIONS FROM
COAL. MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION OF COAL HAS
EMERGED AS A PROMISING TECHNOLOGY TO ADDRESS
THIS ISSUE. RESEARCHERS IN INDIA HAVE BEEN
EXPLORING VARIOUS MICROORGANISMS THAT CAN
EFFECTIVELY REMOVE SULFUR FROM COAL. SOME OF
THE MOST PROMISING CANDIDATES INCLUDE
BACTERIA LIKE RHODOCOCCUS ERYTHROPOLIS
GORDONIA ALKANIVORANS AND BACILLUS SUBTILIS.
THESE MICROBES HAVE SHOWN GREAT POTENTIAL IN
REMOVING UP TO 90% OF THE SULFUR CONTENT
FROM COAL.

14.  Similar research is being conducted in
foreign countries as well. In Japan for
example researchers have developed a
process called the Thiobacillus ferrooxidans
method which uses bacteria to oxidize
sulfur compounds in coal. This process has
been successful in reducing sulfur
emissions by up to 90%. Other countries
like China Australia and the United States
are also actively researching microbial
desulfurization of coal.

15. CONCLUSION
• IN CONCLUSION, MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION OF
COAL OFFERS A SUSTAINABLE AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVE TO
TRADITIONAL COAL DESULFURIZATION METHODS. BY
REMOVING SULFUR FROM COAL, THE PROCESS
REDUCES HARMFUL EMISSIONS AND IMPROVES AIR
QUALITY.
 ALTHOUGH MICROBIAL DESULFURIZATION FACES
SEVERAL CHALLENGES AND LIMITATIONS, IT HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO BECOME A COST-EFFECTIVE AND
EFFICIENT METHOD FOR DESULFURIZING COAL. AS WE
CONTINUE TO EXPLORE NEW WAYS TO REDUCE OUR
IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT, MICROBIAL
DESULFURIZATION WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN
CREATING A CLEANER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE
FUTURE.

16. Submitted By SHUBHAM
KUMAR
Roll No. 01116304722
MSc. (EM) 2nd Sem.