Method for removing undesired components from coal

Patent · Tue Dec 21 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6758038

Abel, W A; Brabets, R I; Massey, L G

A process is disclosed for treating a fluid-permeable hydrocarbonaceous solid, such as coal, containing an admixture of hydrocarbonaceous components and mineral and sulfur components, to separate the solid into a hydrocarbonaceous enriched fraction and a mineral and sulfur enriched fraction. The process involves comminuting the solid in the presence of a low molecular weight alcohol under conditions sufficient to substantially scission the hydrocarbonaceous components from the mineral and sulfur components and to selectively comminute the hydrocarbonaceous components. The resultant product is thereafter separated into the enriched hydrocarbonaceous fraction and the enriched mineral and sulfur fraction. In a preferred embodiment of the process, the hydrocarbonaceous solid is mixed with a low molecular weight alcohol, such as methanol, to form a slurry. The slurry is then heated and pressurized to a temperature and pressure above the critical temperature and pressure of the alcohol. In particularly preferred form, the slurry is heated for a sufficient length of time to form: (1) a dissolved portion of the hydrocarbonaceous components in alcohol; (2) an undissolved suspended portion of hydrocarbonaceous material saturated with the alcohol; and (3) a discrete undissolved suspended portion of the mineral components. The superheated slurry is thereafter expanded, preferably by a substantially instantaneous adiabatic expansion, most preferably in the presence of a sulfur scavenger compound. The result is a selective precipitation, comminution and production of substantially mineral and sulfur free, ultra-fine hydrocarbonaceous particles in admixture with discrete relatively larger mineral particles.

• Assignee: Cng Research Co
• Patent Number(s): US 4364740
• OSTI ID: 6758038
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010402* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Purification & Upgrading
ALCOHOLS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
COMMINUTION
DESULFURIZATION
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPANSION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
METHANOL
MIXTURES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PRESSURIZING
PROCESSING
REFINING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SLURRIES
SUSPENSIONS