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Fused salt reactions of organosulfur compounds

Conference · · Prepr. Pap., Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5970849

The treatment of coal with molten caustic is an effective method for cleaning coal. Molten caustic treatment removes not only mineral matter but most of the sulfur, including organic sulfur, from coal. While the chemical processes leading to the removal of inorganic sulfur have been examined, the mechanics of organic sulfur removal is less understood. Coal characterization studies suggest that the organosulfur moieties in coal may be largely thiophene-type ring structures. A preliminary investigation in this laboratory studied the reaction of benzothiophene with sodium and potassium hydroxides. Evidence was obtained that o-thiocresolates were intermediates in the desulfurization reaction. The overall reaction is multistep; the ring opening is a key step, since only after conversion to a thio derivative does desulfurization take place. Our findings on the desulfurization of thiols and thiol derivatives will be discussed here.

Research Organization:
Department of Energy, Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5970849
Report Number(s):
CONF-870802-
Journal Information:
Prepr. Pap., Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: Prepr. Pap., Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem.; (United States) Vol. 32:4; ISSN ACFPA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English