Process for upgrading coal

Patent · Tue Feb 04 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:5440740

Meyers, R A; Hart, W D; McClanathan, L C

This patent describes a process for reducing the sulfur content and ash content of a feed coal containing sulfur and mineral matter. It comprises: treating the feed coal in a reaction zone with fused alkali metal caustic at an elevated temperature to remove mineral matter and sulfur from the feed coal yielding; combining the caustic-treated coal and water-soluble compounds in a water wash zone with sufficient wash water to reduce the temperature of the caustic-treated coal and dissolve the bulk of the water-soluble compounds before the water-soluble compounds convert to water-insoluble compounds that precipitate on the caustic treated coal, the residence time of the caustic-treated coal in the water wash zone being less than about 90 minutes; maintaining the temperature in the water wash zone at less than about 200{degrees}F.; and separating the caustic-treated coal from spent wash water containing dissolved water-soluble compounds, the separated coal having a sulfur content lower than the sulfur content of the feed coal and an ash content lower than the ash content of the feed coal.

• Assignee: TRW Inc., Redondo Beach, CA (United States)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5085764
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-452794
• OSTI ID: 5440740
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010402* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Purification & Upgrading
010600 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Properties & Composition
ALKALI METALS
ASH CONTENT
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
DESULFURIZATION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
KINETICS
MATERIALS
METALS
PROCESSING
REACTION KINETICS
REFINING
SULFUR CONTENT