ABSTRACT
Control of air pollution originating from sulfur oxide emissions has gotten increasing attention in Turkey during the past decade. Consequent upon serious episodes of air pollution in the capital city, Ankara, and in several other Anotolian cities, it is now clear that the prime cause of pollution is the burning of high-sulfur Turkish lignites for space heating. Furthermore, the Transboundary Air Pollution Control International Act stipulates that sulfur oxide emissions from power plants must be lowered drastically as we approach the end of the century. One method of controlling sulfur oxide emission is by desulfurization of coals prior to combustion. Among the methods available, bacterial desulfurization prior to coal combustion seems promising for the future in many respects. The common method of testing microbial desulfurization is by using shake flask cultures. Several factors are reported to affect the rate and extent of bacterial desulfurization.
