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Title: Sulfur species leached from pyrite during oxidative desulfurization of coal in alkaline solutions

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6777790

The results indicate that thiosulfate, sulfite, and sulfate are the principal soluble sulfur species produced when coal-derived pyrite leached with a hot alkaline solution containing dissolved oxygen. The distribution of soluble sulfur species in the leachate was found to depend on leaching temperature, oxygen partial pressure, leachant composition, and time of contact. At lower temperatures and oxygen partial pressures and with a short time of contact between the leaching solution and pyrite, the leachate sulfur species were dominated by thiosulfate. However, the leachate also contained significant amounts of sulfite and sulfate. When the temperature, oxygen partial pressure, or time of contact were increased, the proportions of thiosulfate and sulfite decreased and the proportion of sulfate increased. It was observed also that reacted pyrite particles catalyzed the oxidation of thiosulfate to sulfite and sulfate. Consequently when pyrite was oxidized in a stirred reactor for 1 h at elevated temperature and oxygen partial pressure, most of the dissolved sulfur appeared as sulfate and very little as thiosulfate or sulfite. 10 references, 4 figures, 1 table.

Research Organization:
Iowa State Univ. of Science and Technology, Ames (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-82
OSTI ID:
6777790
Report Number(s):
IS-M-462; CONF-830807-15; ON: DE84012135
Resource Relation:
Conference: International conference on coal science, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 15 Aug 1983; Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English