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Process development for solvent refined lignite laboratory autoclave studies: Part II. Project lignite: premium fuels from Northern Great Plains lignite. R and D report No. 106, Interim report no. 4

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6325829· OSTI ID:6325829

Batch autoclave data showing the effect of process variables on the solution-hydrogenation of lignite to produce a solvent-refined lignite are presented. Most of the information was obtained to evaluate the influence of process variables or to answer questions that arose during operation of a continuous process development unit. Under favorable test conditions, over 90 percent of the organic lignite material (moisture and ash-free lignite) could be converted to a high-heating value, low ash, and low sulfur solid product, some light oils and hydrocarbon gases. A brief description of equipment, test and calculation procedures are presented. As a result of the tests, the following conclusions were drawn: 1. Liquefaction characteristics of lignite samples stored in air-free environments for up to 70 weeks were not significantly different from those of recently mined lignite. 2. Samples stored in the presence of air exhibited a reduction in yields of net liquids and solvent refined lignite (SRL). 3. Lignites from North Dakota, the Denver Basin and Thailand gave similar overall conversion and product distribution, while processing a Chilean lignite resulted in about the same overall conversion, but a different distribution of final products. 4. Liquefaction of Chilean lignite seemed to follow a different mechanism resulting in net production of water and lower gas yield. 5. Various techniques for pretreating lignite with phenol were tried, but they did not result in sufficient improvement in liquefaction to justify the additional processing.

Research Organization:
North Dakota Univ., Grand Forks (USA). Engineering Experiment Station
OSTI ID:
6325829
Report Number(s):
FE-1224-79
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English