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Title: Process development for production of coal/sorbent agglomerates

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6133208
; ; ;  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign, IL (USA)
  2. Illinois Univ., Urbana, IL (USA)
  3. Army Construction Engineering Research Lab., Champaign, IL (USA)

Current coal mining and processing procedures produce significant quantities of fine coal with limited marketability. The objective of this work is to utilize these fines to economically produce a fuel which will meet anticipated sulfur dioxide emission levels. To accomplish this, the process of pelletizing fine coal with a sulfur capturing sorbent such as calcium hydroxide is being studied. Carbonation, which is the reaction of calcium hydroxide with carbon dioxide to produce a bonding matrix of calcium carbonate, is being investigated as a method for improving pellet quality and decreasing binder costs. Two potential combustion options are being considered - fluidized bed combustors and industrial stoker boilers. This project represents phase 2 of research in this area. Previous test results indicate that carbonation can improve compressive strength, impact and attrition resistance and essentially waterproofs pellets having a 14% lime content. Binders such as corn starch or molasses do not produce waterproof pellets capable of withstanding rainfall that might occur during shipping or outdoor storage. The past years work was conducted using IBC-106 ground to a particle size of 90% minus 90 microns. In this years work, testing will be performed using a flotation concentrate collected from an operating preparation plant. The sample was collected this quarter and is currently being processed. Also during this quarter, a carbonation reactor has been designed and will be fabricated early next quarter. To aid in pelletization work, an undergraduate civil engineering student has been hired and trained. Some pelletization work has been completed but results are too preliminary to report. 2 refs.

Research Organization:
Illinois Dept. of Energy and Natural Resources, Springfield, IL (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
FG22-90PC90176
OSTI ID:
6133208
Report Number(s):
DOE/PC/90176-T2; ON: DE91010501
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English