Study of the Influence of Biodegradation on Coal Micro-Nano Pore Structure Using Low-Temperature N2 Adsorption

Abstract

An experimental study of biodegradation of Shenmu coal was carried out by using Ochrobactrum cytisi, Novospingobium naphthalenivorans, Alcaligenes faecalis and Pseudomonas fluorescens. The micro-nano pore structure of coal samples before and after biodegradation was studied by low-temperature N2 adsorption. For biodegraded coal, the results showed that micropores and mesopores are primarily open pores with good connectivity, including parallel plate pores and cylinder pores with two open ends; the specific surface area of biodegraded coal decreased from 2.2174 m2/g to 1.6255˜2.0537 m2/g, and the pore size of the coal biodegraded by the four bacteria decreased following biodegradation from 250 nm to 170˜200 nm, which may be due to collapse of the coal structure due to the bacterial degradation. Coal biodegradation by the dominant bacterium P. fluorescens led to a diminished mesopore size and an increased number of smaller mesopores, with the smaller mesopores gradually taking on dominant roles.