CYTOTOXICITY OF UNTREATED 

 COAL-CONVERSION GASIFIER CONDENSATE 



T. WAYNE SCHULTZ,*t JAMES N. DUMONT4 and LOLA M. KYTE4: 

 *University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, and Oak Ridge Graduate 

 School of Biomedical Sciences, Oak Ridge, Tennessee; 

 :|:Biology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 



ABSTRACT 



The possible environmental effects of an untreated gasifier condensate (filtered 

 product water from the Synthane gasification process) are examined. Popula- 

 tions of the ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis w^ere exposed to varying concentra- 

 tions of condensate, and their behavior, respiration, cytology, and growth rates 

 were investigated. Concentrations of 1% and less cause little if any behavioral 

 (shape and motility) changes, but concentrations of 2% and greater decrease 

 motility and increase cell lysis. The condensate causes a nonlinear, dose- 

 dependent reduction in oxygen consumption. At concentrations of less than 2%, 

 no alteration in respiration is noted over a 300-min exposure. At all 

 concentrations tested, the most striking cytological alterations are in the 

 mitochondrial matrixes, which become more electron dense. Cell membranes are 

 also disrupted, and mucocysts are discharged. Population growth is reduced by 

 concentrations of product water as low as 0.2% and is completely inhibited by 

 1% concentration. The density of test populations plateaus at values inversely 

 related to concentration. Pure phenolic compounds elicit similar responses. 



For many years gas and oil have been the major energy sources in the 

 United States, but, with the depletion of domestic reserves and 

 increasing dependence on foreign sources for these fuels, coal, which 

 accounts for 75% of the U. S. fossil-fuel resources, will be relied on 

 more and more as a source of energy. To be of greater industrial and 

 commercial value, however, coal must be converted into gas and oil. 



tCurrent address: Department of Biology, Pan American University, 

 Edinburg, Texas. 



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