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Title: Method of preparing low-sulfur, low-ash fuel. [17 claims]

Patent ·
OSTI ID:7254065

A method is described of preparing low-sulfur, low-ash fuel from coal while simultaneously recovering valuable chemical products and taking advantage of a surprising coaction between comminution and dissolution and characterized as the steps of comminuting the coal in the presence of an alcohol containing 1 to 4 carbons atoms, inclusive; forming an admixture of the comminuted coal and alcohol to have a desired minimum of solids; separating the admixture into a first underflow of high density solids, a first middling stream of coal in alcohol and a first overflow stream of the alcohol and its dissolved and suspended constituents; separating the first underflow into a second underflow having therein the sulfur and solids that would form ash if burned and a second overflow comprising a dilute slurry of the coal in the alcohol and dissolved and suspended constituents; separating the first middling stream into a third underflow of high density solids, a second middling stream of coal with only a minor amount of sulfur and high density solids and a third overflow comprising the alcohol and dissolved and suspended constituents; separating the first overflow into a fourth underflow and a fourth overflow; refining the fourth overflow into respective desired chemical products, or constituents and the alcohol; and forming a low-sulfur, low-ash fuel from the second middling stream. Also disclosed are specific preferred steps including the treatment of the low-sulfur, low-ash coal to turn it into a puffed coal that burns readily to produce a hot flame with very low pollution emissions, while recovering alcohol and valuable chemicals, organic gases, and the like. 17 claims, 2 figures.

Assignee:
Keller Corp.
Patent Number(s):
US 4030893
OSTI ID:
7254065
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: Filed date 20 May 1976
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English