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US 4,043,885 AGranted
Electrolytic pyrite removal from kerogen materials
AssigneeUniversity of Southern California
InventorsTeh Fu Yen, Chaur-Shyong Wen, Jonathan Kwan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrolytically active slurry of bituminous, kerogen-containing material is subjected to non-oxidative electrolysis to remove pyrite therefrom.
Claims10
A process for treating bituminous material for removal of pyrite therefrom, comprising:
- forming an aqueous, substantially non-oxidative electrolytically active slurry of said material;
- defining an electrolytic cell having a cathode chamber electrolytically operative with an anode chamber, an anode in said anode chamber in contact with said slurry and a cathode in said cathode chamber;
- and
- applying a direct current potential across said anode and cathode chambers at a current density of above about 50 A/m.sup.2 to effect an electrolytic reaction of the pyrite in said material for a time sufficient for substantial removal of pyrite from said material.
1 more element
A process for treating raw oil shale for removal of pyrite therefrom, comprising:
- grinding said oil shale to pass at least a 60 mesh screen, U.S. Standard;
- adding an organic solvent for bitumen to said ground shale to solubilize bitumen in said shale, and extracting said solubilized bitumen;
- adding a mineral acid to said extracted shale for leaching carbonate minerals;
- washing to remove residual acid and reaction products of said leaching to obtain a kerogen concentrate;
- slurrying said kerogen concentrate with a dilute aqueous solution of alkali metal salt, as electrolyte;
- placing said slurry into the anode chamber of an electrolytic cell having a cathode chamber electrolytically operative with said anode chamber;
- and
- applying a direct current potential across said anode and cathode chambers at a current density of about 350-750 A/m.sup.2 for about 1-5 hours to effect electrolytic reaction of the pyrite in said kerogen concentrate for substantial removal of pyrite from said kerogen.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.