Process for removal of sulfur and ash from coal
AssigneeAtlantic Richfield Company
InventorsEmmett H. Burk, Jr., Jui-Yuan Sun, Nestor J. Troncoso
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for reducing the sulfur and ash content of coal particles wherein coal particles are treated in an aqueous slurry with a minor amount of hydrocarbon oil to form coal-oil aggregates having modified particle size and density characteristics. The coal-oil aggregates are separated from ash and mineral matter in the slurry by gravitational means. Optionally, the coal particles may be treated with a conditioning agent prior to the aggregation step. Recovered coal particles comprise a substantial part of the feed carbon values.
Claims31
A process for reducing the sulfur and ash content of coal comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an aqueous slurry of coal particles containing ash and pyritic sulfur mineral matter;
- (b) adding to the slurry a minor amount of hydrocarbon oil sufficient to effect aggregation of the coal particles;
- (c) incorporating a gas into or on the coal-oil aggregates, whereby the apparent density of the coal-oil aggregates is modified;
- (d) gravitationally separating the density-modified coal-oil aggregates from the aqueous slurry;
- and
- (e) recovering coal-oil aggregates of reduced sulfur.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.