Sulfur removal and comminution of carbonaceous material

Patent · 07 October 1987

OSTI ID:6316021

Narain, N. K.; Ruether, J. A.; Smith, D. N.

Finely divided, clean coal or other carbonaceous material is provided by forming a slurry of coarse coal in aqueous alkali solution and heating the slurry under pressure to above the critical conditions of steam. The supercritical fluid penetrates and is trapped in the porosity of the coal as it swells in a thermoplastic condition at elevated temperature. By a sudden, explosive release of pressure the coal is fractured into finely divided particles with release of sulfur-containing gases and minerals. The finely divided coal is recovered from the minerals for use as a clean coal product. 2 figs.

• Research Organization: USDOE Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center, PA
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): PATENTS-US-A7105166
• Application Number: ON: DE89011783
• OSTI ID: 6316021
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010300* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Preparation-- (1987-)
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COMMINUTION
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
INVENTIONS
MATERIALS
MIXTURES
NONMETALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM HYDROXIDES
REMOVAL
SLURRIES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM HYDROXIDES
STEAM
SULFUR
SUPERCRITICAL STATE
SUSPENSIONS
SWELLING