Acta Chimica Slovaca (ACS) publishes papers on fundamental and applied aspects of chemistry, biochemistry, chemical technology, chemical engineering and process control, biotechnology and food technology. Welcome are also topics which include chemical aspects of materials, physical chemistry and chemical physics, analytical chemistry, macromolecular chemistry and biomedical engineering.

Degradation of low-rank coal excavated from coal-mine Záhorie by filamentous fungi

Eva Smoleňová, Richard Pokorný, Michal Kaliňák a, Tibor Liptaj b, Martin Šimkovič, Ľudovít Varečka *

Institute of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, 812 37 Bratislava, Slovakia
a Central Laboratories, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, 812 37 Bratislava, Slovakia
b Central Laboratories, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, 812 37 Bratislava, Slovakia

E-mail: * ludovit.varecka@stuba.sk

Abstract: The ability of Trichoderma strains isolated from lignite and of Earth surface-derived strains to attack (solubilise) lignite, peat and wood was compared using glutamate as a carbon source. The results showed that lignite-derived microorganisms solubilise lignite to similar extent as Trichoderma strains isolated from the Earth surface. Solubilisation processes involve the action of enzymes and alkaline pH. The solubilisation of lignite was accompanied by a small increase of conidia-bound laccase, whereas that of peat was accompanied by (secretion) activity of cellulase, laminarinase, laccase, and lignin-peroxidase-like enzyme. In addition, data showing that bacteria contained in lignite are able of lignite solubilisation and utilisation were obtained.

Keywords: Trichoderma species, low-rank coal, solubilisation

Acta Chimica Slovaca, Vol. 13, No. 2, 2020, pp. 14—22, DOI: 10.2478/acs-2020-0019