ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the research path developed by Sheladia together with specific research initiatives that may contribute to the development of such processes. The initiatives were developed during the course of the study by scientists and engineers working within the pertinent technical areas. The chapter provides objectives as well as a short discussion of the work entailed for each initiative as a way of demonstrating possible research ideas within the proposed research path. The six major research areas investigated in the chapter are coal structure and reactivity, gasification technology (nonbiological), genetic engineering, coal bioprocessing, bioprocess technology, and regulatory implications of biotechnology processes. Coal structure and reactivity was an obvious choice since coal is the substrate for the majority of the processes considered. Nonbiological gasification technology was investigated as a benchmark for comparison of biological processes in terms of cost, mechanism, conditions, and other selected parameters.
