Microbial process for the reduction of sulfur dioxide
US5269929A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 10, 1992 |
| Grant date | Dec 14, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 10, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02A50/20
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A biological process is described involving the conversion of SO.sub.2 to H.sub.2 S using sulfate reducing bacteria in co-culture with facultatively anaerobic heterotrophs under anaerobic conditions in a maintenance medium which includes a substrate fermentable by the facultatively anaerobic heterotrophs to produce an end product which acts as the carbon and energy source for the sulfate reducing bacteria. Glucose and sewage sludge are the two fermentable substrates described. The process is described as being used in conjunction with a process for removing SO.sub.2 from a flue gas and then converting the SO.sub.2 to H.sub.2 S. The H.sub.2 S may be reacted with some remaining SO.sub.2 in a Claus reactor to produce elemental sulfur or the H.sub.2 S may be used as a reducing gas to regenerate the sorbent being used to remove the SO.sub.2 from the flue gas.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.