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Title: Method of extracting coal from a coal refuse pile

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5806711

This patent describes a method of extracting coal from a coal refuse pile. It comprises soaking the coal refuse pile with an aqueous alkali solution; distributing an oxygen-containing gas throughout the coal refuse pile for a time period sufficient to effect oxidation of coal contained in the coal reuse pile; 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, wherein the method is conducted at ambient pressure. This patent also describes a method of further comprising adding calcium hydroxide to the resulting solution containing alkali salts of humic acids to produce precipitated calcium humates and an alkali solution.

Assignee:
Secretary of the Interior, Washington, DC (USA)
Patent Number(s):
US 5035722; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-408586
OSTI ID:
5806711
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 18 Sep 1989
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English