Feasibility study of molecular grafting to solubilize coal. Final report. [Graft polymerization of an unsaturated monomer to the coal using a free radical initiator]

Technical Report · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5365261· OSTI ID:5365261

Burgess, L. E.

This final report describes the results of a feasibility study of molecular grafting (MG) to solubilize coal. The study employed chemical reactions, primarily of the free-radical type, to graft polymeric chain segments to the coal molecules of a bituminous coal (Illinois No. 6). The experimental work showed that: molecular grafting reaction proceeds at 70/sup 0/C and atmospheric pressure; in a single step, 30% of the input coal could be rendered soluble in benzene and other solvents; a proprietary chemical grafting initiator is required to increase the coal's extractive solubility; ash content in the extracted coal averaged less than 1.0%; sulfur (including organic) was reduced from almost 3% in the input coal to less than 0.7% in the extracted product (sulfur balance was not achieved during the course of the work); the dried extract had a high heat content and burned like wax, offering possibilities as a clean fuel or fuel extender; balance of material was established by reactant accountability, ash accountability, carbon and hydrogen accountability, and combustion heat accountability; and consumption of monomer during reaction was generally in the range of 10%. Experiments showed that the reaction proceeded only in the presence of the chemical grafting initiator. Several alternate studies showed that homopolymer formation was almost nonexistent. The reacted residual coal retained over 70% of its volatiles and was reasonably high in caloric value. The residue could be physically cleaned and dispersed in oil without a surfactant because chemical grafting imparts properties which eliminate settling problems common to most coal-in-oil systems. Future work is recommended to characterize the products of reaction and establish reaction mechanisms.

• Research Organization: Gulf and Western Advanced Development and Engineering Center, Swarthmore, Pa. (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5365261
• Report Number(s): FE-2020-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010405* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Hydrogenation & Liquefaction
ASHES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
COAL EXTRACTS
DESULFURIZATION
ENERGY SOURCES
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GRAFT POLYMERS
MONOMERS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERS
RADICALS
RESIDUES
SOLUBILITY