Assessment of lignite upgrade and hydrogen evolution via electrolysis

Lyu, Xiang; Hu, Junyi

doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2021.115181

Title: Assessment of lignite upgrade and hydrogen evolution via electrolysis

Journal Article · 03 January 2022 · Energy Conversion and Management

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2021.115181 · OSTI ID:1877480

Lyu, Xiang ^[1]; Hu, Junyi ^[2]

Ohio Univ., Athens, OH (United States); Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Ohio Univ., Athens, OH (United States); Univ. of Science and Technology Liaoning, Anshan (China)

Lignite, considered as the lowest-rank coal, accounts for 45% of the total coal resources worldwide, and its low carbon and high ash contents limit its large-scale application. In order to upgrade lignite effectively, a modified coal electrolytic cell (MCEC) was designed, built, and then evaluated for lignite upgrade and hydrogen production through electrolysis, and the operating conditions were optimized. The results show that the performance of the MCEC outperformed the previous coal electrolytic cell (CEC). The operating temperature and iron concentration significantly impact the average current density per milligram of catalyst (ACDMC). The content of dry fixed carbon and heating value increased by 20.9% (wt%) and 8.15%, respectively, in electrolyzed lignite compared with raw lignite. Besides, 71.5% ash and 39.6% mercury were removed from raw lignite after electrolysis, which is the first report. The Faradaic efficiency (FE) for hydrogen evolution reached 99% using MCEC. In addition, the analysis of spectroscopy methods (SEM, EDX, FTIR, and XRD) revealed that the lignite particles were cracked; the oxygen-containing functional groups increased; the minerals of quartz and hematite formed on the surface of lignite particles after electrolysis. Furthermore, the facts indicate that electrolysis of lignite is a competitive approach for lignite upgrade and hydrogen production.

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Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 1877480

Journal Information:: Energy Conversion and Management, Journal Name: Energy Conversion and Management Journal Issue: 111 Vol. 253; ISSN 0196-8904

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Ash and mercury removal
Electrolysis
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Lignite upgrade

Title: Assessment of lignite upgrade and hydrogen evolution via electrolysis

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