ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates biological approaches to separating sulfur from coal. Despite the tremendous number of separation techniques already discussed, the removal of organic sulfur remains quite challenging. As some bacteria are known to process sulfur as a part of their digestive process, it may be possible to digest organic sulfur from the coal without a need for extreme chemical processes. It is shown that pyritic removal of sulfur from coal via microbial treatment is possible, but as this is also possible by several other means it is less exciting overall. This chapter also discusses the possibility of removing sulfur from coal by solubilizing the coal rather than the sulfur. This chapter also outlines the basic framework of developing and maintaining a microbe strain for use at a coal facility.
