Sodium chloride as a catalyst for the gasification of coal char. Final report, Tasks 8 and 9
This project examined the feasibility of using sodium chloride to promote the rate of production of low- and medium-Btu gas by steam gasification of coal, char, or other carbonaceous materials. The objectives of the study were to develop this process and elucidate its mechanism. Our experimental measurements confirm that, in the presence of carbon, sodium chloride can react with water to yield hydrogen chloride in concentrations substantially greater than the equilibrium level. The other product of hydrolysis, sodium hydroxide, should remain on the carbon phase as an active steam gasification catalyst. In process optimization experiments, however, we found that treatment of sodium chloride-impregnated char in flowing steam produces only a modest enhancement in the gasification reactivity of the material. Illinois No. 6 coal char and Spheron-6 mineral-free carbon black respond identically to the treatment. The method of addition of sodium chloride to the char appears to be quite unimportant. The use of carbon dioxide as a gaseous additive during the steam pretreatment substantially augments the efficacy of the catalyst activation process, but only for the mineral free carbon. In the case of NaCl-char admixtures, mineral constituents in the char may interfere with the activation process. It appears that a suitable steam-carbon dioxide treatment of sodium chloride-impregnated carbon can raise the catalytic activity of the additive to a level near that of sodium carbonate. The cost per mole of sodium in salt brine is less than 10% that of sodium carbonate. Consequently, sodium chloride has potential for use as a disposable catalyst that would significantly reduce the cost and enhance the attractiveness of catalytic coal gasification. 8 refs., 7 figs., 4 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC21-80MC14593
- OSTI ID:
- 6201234
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/MC/14593-1981; ON: DE86001047
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Mechanism of catalytic gasification of coal char. Final report, tasks 1-5
Mechanism of catalytic gasification of coal char. Quarterly technical progress report No. 3, 1 April-30 June 1981
Related Subjects
CARBON BLACK
GASIFICATION
CHARS
COAL GASIFICATION
CATALYSTS
SODIUM CHLORIDES
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
VAPOR PRESSURE
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
CARBON DIOXIDE
COST
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HIGH TEMPERATURE
REACTION KINETICS
STEAM
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CARBON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
DATA
ELEMENTS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
KINETICS
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PYROLYSIS PRODUCTS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
010404* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Gasification