DESULFURIZATION OF COAL FROM NORTHERN BOHEMIAN BROWN COAL BASIN BY BACTERIAL LEACHING

Desulphurization of coal by bacterial leaching is very effective. Desulphurization by bacteria Thiobacillus ferrooxidans was applied to three brown coal samples with different mineralogical and petrographical composition from three open pit mines in the Northern Bohemian brown coal basin, Czechoslovakia. From the results obtained it is apparent that the success of bacterial leaching depends on the grain size of pyrite and on its relationship to coal matter and ash, on the ratio of pyrite to marcasite and further on the adaptibility of the bacteria culture.