1. EDITORIAL

   Pages: 1 - 1

2. Biological processing of fossil fuels

   • J. Klein
   • Editors: J. Klein, Germany · D.E.A. Catcheside, Australia · R. Fakoussa, Germany · L. Gazso, Hungary · W. Fritsche, Germany · M. Höfer, Germany · F. Laborda, Spain · I. Margarit, Italy · H.-J. Rehm, Germany · M. Reich-Walber, Germany · W. Sand, Germany · S. Schacht, Germany · H. Schmiers, Germany · L. Setti, Italy · A. Steinbüchel, Germany

   MINI-REVIEW Pages: 2 - 15

3. Biological processing of coal

   • D. E. A. Catcheside
   • J. P. Ralph

   MINI-REVIEW Pages: 16 - 24

4. Biotechnology and microbiology of coal degradation

   • R. M. Fakoussa
   • M. Hofrichter

   MINI-REVIEW Pages: 25 - 40

5. Fungal biosolubilization of Rhenish brown coal monitored by Curie-point pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry using tetraethylammonium hydroxide

   • G. K. E. Götz
   • R. M. Fakoussa

   ORIGINAL PAPER Pages: 41 - 48

6. Processes of liquefaction/solubilization of Spanish coals by microorganisms

   • F. Laborda
   • I. F. Monistrol
   • M. Fernández

   ORIGINAL PAPER Pages: 49 - 56

7. Mechanisms of coal solubilization by the deuteromycetes Trichoderma atroviride and Fusarium oxysporum

   • U. Hölker
   • S. Ludwig
   • M. Höfer

   SHORT CONTRIBUTION Pages: 57 - 59

8. In vivo-decolorization of coal-derived humic acids by laccase-excreting fungus Trametes versicolor

   • R. M. Fakoussa
   • P. J. Frost

   ORIGINAL PAPER Pages: 60 - 65

9. Evidence for and expression of a laccase gene in three basidiomycetes degrading humic acids

   • T. Scheel
   • U. Hölker
   • M. Höfer

   SHORT CONTRIBUTION Pages: 66 - 69

10. Transformation of macromolecules from a brown coal by lignin peroxidase

    • J. P. Ralph
    • D. E. A. Catcheside

    ORIGINAL PAPER Pages: 70 - 77

11. Degradation of lignite (low-rank coal) by ligninolytic basidiomycetes and their manganese peroxidase system

    • M. Hofrichter
    • D. Ziegenhagen
    • W. Fritsche

    ORIGINAL PAPER Pages: 78 - 84

12. Degradation of alicyclic molecules by Rhodococcus ruber CD4

    • J. D. Schumacher
    • R. M. Fakoussa

    ORIGINAL PAPER Pages: 85 - 90

13. Biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates from low-rank coal liquefaction products by Pseudomonas oleovorans and Rhodococcus ruber

    • B. Füchtenbusch
    • A. Steinbüchel

    ORIGINAL PAPER Pages: 91 - 95

14. EPR study and structural aspects of ferredoxins obtained from Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

    • A. B. Więckowski
    • G. P. Słowik
    • A. Perkowska

    SHORT CONTRIBUTION Pages: 96 - 98

15. Effect of enclosing rocks and aeration on methanogenesis from coals

    • S. Shumkov
    • S. Terekhova
    • K. Laurinavichius

    SHORT CONTRIBUTION Pages: 99 - 103

16. Intermediary sulfur compounds in pyrite oxidation: implications for bioleaching and biodepyritization of coal

    • A. Schippers
    • T. Rohwerder
    • W. Sand

    ORIGINAL PAPER Pages: 104 - 110

17. Developments in destructive and non-destructive pathways for selective desulfurizations in oil-biorefining processes

    • L. Setti
    • P. Farinelli
    • P. G. Pifferi

    ORIGINAL PAPER Pages: 111 - 117

18. Bioremoval of organic and inorganic sulphur from coal samples

    • F. Gómez
    • R. Amils
    • I. Marín

    SHORT CONTRIBUTION Pages: 118 - 121

19. Manipulation of the DNA coding for the desulphurizing activity in a new isolate of Arthrobacter sp.

    • L. Serbolisca
    • F. de Ferra
    • I. Margarit

    SHORT CONTRIBUTION Pages: 122 - 126

20. Bioassays for risk assessment of coal conversion products

    • S. Schacht
    • C. Sinder
    • J. Klein

    SHORT CONTRIBUTION Pages: 127 - 130