Development of an efficient coal-desulfurization process: oxy-alkalinolysis

Technical Report · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:5416570

Aida, T; Venier, C G; Squires, T G

Physical and chemical desulfurization processes have been developed which effectively remove inorganic sulfur from coal prior to combustion. However, these techniques have not been effective in removing organic sulfur. This study utilizes the concept of first oxidizing the sulfur and then exploiting the enhanced chemical reactivity of functional groups such as sulfoxides, sulfones, and sulfonic and sulfinic acids to design a coal desulfurization process. This approach is based on the facile oxidation of organic sulfur by electrophilic reagents and the cleavage of C-SOx bonds by molten alkali. The process is best described as oxy-alkalinolysis. Conclusions from this study are: (1) This desulfurization method was developed on the basis of the demonstrated chemistry of organic sulfur functionalities. (2) Organic sulfur in coal can be activated with Cl/sub 2/ for removal by molten KOH, probably through electrophilic oxidation. (3) Oxy-alkalinolysis is a method for deep cleaning of coal, i.e. efficient removal of organic sulfur, under mild conditions. (4) Residual chlorine can be removed from coal with molten KOH.

• Research Organization: Ames Lab., IA (USA); Advanced Fuel Research, Inc., East Hartford, CT (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-82
• OSTI ID: 5416570
• Report Number(s): IS-M-382; CONF-820909-5; ON: DE82016384
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010402* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Purification & Upgrading
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINE
COAL
DATA
DESULFURIZATION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HALOGENS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
INFORMATION
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
MATERIALS
MINERALS
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM HYDROXIDES
PYRITE
REMOVAL
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM HYDROXIDES
SULFIDE MINERALS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS