Characterization of mineral matter in pulverized coal by density profiling: Final report, March 1, 1986-February 28, 1987

Technical Report · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6439866

Jobling, J L; Crelling, J C

This study involved the careful analysis of the ash in coal and its removal in relationship to the petrology of the coal. The primary goal of this study was to demonstrate the use of density gradient centrifugation techniques to assess ash content and the distribution in maceral and lithotype components in micronized coal. An additional objective of the research was to utilize maceral density gradient separates to assess and characterize the ultimate cleanability of selected coals and to document attainable ash levels. The results indicate that the ash content of the various coal lithotypes are quite variable, although there is a tendency for the more vitrinite-rich lithotypes (vitrain and clarain) to have lower ash levels than the more inertinite-rich lithotypes (fusain and durain). It was common for the vitrain and clarain to have ash contents less than the whole coal values. Acid leaching (demineralization) of two micronized samples removed 80 and 87%, respectively, of the ash in the raw coal and centrifugation of these samples removed another 3 and 6%. Density gradient separation of non-demineralized samples yielded vitrinite with an ash content similar to that of the acid-demineralized raw coal. Also, the density gradient separation of the two acid-demineralized samples yielded vitrinites with ash contents of 0.15 and 0.26%, respectively. These values indicate ash reductions of 94.8% and 98.5%, respectively, and are believed to represent the greatest ash reduction possible at the present state-of-the-art. Finally, the inertinite maceral group had a significantly higher ash content. This suggests that coals with a high inertinite content may be inherently harder to clean than vitrinite-rich coals. 7 refs., 2 figs., 9 tabs.

• Research Organization: Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale (USA). Dept. of Geology
• DOE Contract Number: FC22-86PC91272
• OSTI ID: 6439866
• Report Number(s): DOE/PC/91272-T12; ON: DE87011026
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010300 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Preparation-- (1987-)
010600* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Properties & Composition
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CENTRIFUGATION
COAL
COAL PREPARATION
DEASHING
DEMINERALIZATION
DENSITY
DISSOLUTION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGY
LEACHING
LITHOTYPES
MACERALS
MATERIALS
PETROGRAPHY
PETROLOGY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SEPARATION PROCESSES