How to utilize coal for anaerobic digestion for acetic acid or butyric acid production? we must need to convert coal into synthetic gas first or we can directly utilize coal as a carbon source in anaerobic digestion?
Dear Rasool,
Coal is not useful for anaerobic digestion, either to make fatty acids or other compounds. Acetic acid and other fatty acids are produced as a result of bacterial metabolism, they can not be generated in a chemical way by oxidation reactions. Moreover, carbon is nearly unreactive under normal conditions or under the temperature and pressure conditions of AD. From my knowledge up to now, I haven’t heard about any bacteria that can use elemental carbon as energy source to support their metabolic activities. For methanogenesis, some microorganisms species use carbon in its oxydized state (CO2), other species use organic compounds as a carbon source (methanol, formiate, acetate etc.). Also, carbon can not react with metals since high temperatures are required for this. I think coal remains in the solid state in the digester but the solid coal particles can negatively influence the AD processes and methane yield.
Dear Thank you for such a detailed and reasonable reply. Now I can answer many things to my question @ Carmen Mateescu
Biogas can be used as fuel for the production of electricity, heat and transportation. Biogas can be upgraded to pure methane, often called biomethane, by removing other gases. This pure stream of biomethane can then be injectedinto the main gas grid or used as a road fuel. Biogas generation helps cut reliance on the use of fossil fuel, such as oil and gas. In addition the raw materials used in the production of biogas are renewable. For more details consult https://www.homebiogas.com;; https://www.biogas.-info.co.uk.
Dear R. Kamal,
In principle, yes it may be possible to use coal for anaerobic digestion, as one of the requirements of a potential feedstock is a good C:N (carbon to nitrogen) ratio.
That said, the candidate coal will be a low ranked coal preferably a lignite due to its related properties (high carbon, nitrogen & volatile matter) to biomass.
Lastly, there are a number of studies in literature that have explored anaerobic digestion of coals. Hope this helps,
BB Nyakuma
Coal (C) can be converted to methane (CH4) with water (H2O) abiotically (without anaerobic digestion) but the conversion rate at ambient temperature is low.
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