skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Method for desulfurization of coal

Abstract

A process and apparatus for desulfurizing coal which removes sulfur in the inorganic and organic form by preferentially heating the inorganic iron sulfides in coal in a flowing gas to convert some of the inorganic iron sulfides from a pyrite form FeS.sub.2 to a troilite FeS form or a pyrrhotite form Fe.sub.1-x S and release some of the sulfur as a gaseous compound. The troilite and pyrrhotite forms are convenient catalyst for removing the organic sulfur in the next step, which is to react the coal with chemical agents such as alcohol, thus removing the organic sulfur as a liquid or a gas such as H.sub.2 S. The remaining inorganic sulfur is left in the predominantly higher magnetic form of pyrrhotite and is then removed by magnetic separation techniques. Optionally, an organic flocculant may be added after the organic sulfur has been removed and before magnetic separation. The flocculant attaches non-pyrite minerals with the pyrrhotite for removal by magnetic separation to reduce the ash-forming contents.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Lexington, MA
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
866301
Patent Number(s):
US 4678478
Assignee:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
DOE Contract Number:  
FG02-84ER13244
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
method; desulfurization; coal; process; apparatus; desulfurizing; removes; sulfur; inorganic; organic; form; preferentially; heating; iron; sulfides; flowing; gas; convert; pyrite; fes; troilite; pyrrhotite; 1-x; release; gaseous; compound; forms; convenient; catalyst; removing; step; react; chemical; agents; alcohol; liquid; remaining; left; predominantly; magnetic; removed; separation; techniques; optionally; flocculant; added; attaches; non-pyrite; minerals; removal; reduce; ash-forming; contents; magnetic separation; organic sulfur; chemical agent; chemical agents; separation techniques; iron sulfide; flowing gas; organic iron; iron sulfides; desulfurizing coal; gaseous compound; organic form; separation technique; inorganic iron; inorganic sulfur; /44/201/209/

Citation Formats

Kelland, David R. Method for desulfurization of coal. United States: N. p., 1987. Web.
Kelland, David R. Method for desulfurization of coal. United States.
Kelland, David R. 1987. "Method for desulfurization of coal". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866301.
@article{osti_866301,
title = {Method for desulfurization of coal},
author = {Kelland, David R},
abstractNote = {A process and apparatus for desulfurizing coal which removes sulfur in the inorganic and organic form by preferentially heating the inorganic iron sulfides in coal in a flowing gas to convert some of the inorganic iron sulfides from a pyrite form FeS.sub.2 to a troilite FeS form or a pyrrhotite form Fe.sub.1-x S and release some of the sulfur as a gaseous compound. The troilite and pyrrhotite forms are convenient catalyst for removing the organic sulfur in the next step, which is to react the coal with chemical agents such as alcohol, thus removing the organic sulfur as a liquid or a gas such as H.sub.2 S. The remaining inorganic sulfur is left in the predominantly higher magnetic form of pyrrhotite and is then removed by magnetic separation techniques. Optionally, an organic flocculant may be added after the organic sulfur has been removed and before magnetic separation. The flocculant attaches non-pyrite minerals with the pyrrhotite for removal by magnetic separation to reduce the ash-forming contents.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/866301}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987},
month = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987}
}