Method of extracting coal from a coal-refuse pile

Patent · Mon Sep 18 04:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:5279552

Yavorsky, P M

A method of extracting coal from a coal refuse pile comprises soaking the coal refuse pile with an aqueous alkali solution and distributing an oxygen-containing gas throughout the coal refuse pile for a time period sufficient to effect oxidation of coal contained in the coal-refuse pile. The method further comprises leaching the coal refuse pile with an aqueous alkali solution to solubilize and extract the oxidized coal as alkali salts of humic acids and collecting the resulting solution containing the alkali salts of humic acids. Calcium hydroxide may be added to the solution of alkali salts of humic acid to form precipitated humates useable as a low-ash, low-sulfur solid fuel.

• Research Organization: Department of the Interior, Washington, DC (USA)
• Assignee: Department of the Interior, Washington, DC
• Patent Number(s): A US 7-408586
• OSTI ID: 5279552
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010800* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320305 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Industrial Waste Management
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM HYDROXIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL EXTRACTS
COAL MINES
DISSOLUTION
FUELS
HUMIC ACIDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
LEACHING
MANAGEMENT
MINES
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REFUSE DERIVED FUELS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPOIL BANKS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
WASTE MANAGEMENT