# US 4,394,132 A · Particulate coal-in-liquid mixture and process for the production thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,394,132 A - Document ID: US4394132A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/151,358 - Filed: 1980-05-19 - Granted: 1983-07-19 - Earliest claimed: 1980-05-19 - Assignees: Ergon, Inc. - Inventors: David W. Taylor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4394132A ## CPC - C10L 1/322: {Coal-oil suspensions} - C10L 1/326: {Coal-water suspensions} - C10L: FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G OR C10K; LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS; USE OF ADDITIVES TO FUELS OR FIRES; FIRE-LIGHTERS ## Abstract Improved particulate coal-in-liquid mixtures and a process for the production thereof wherein, prior to mixing with liquid, the coal component of the mixture is finally divided in a substantially airtight fluid energy attrition mill, and thereafter separated from ash particles. The particulate coal product thus produced is mixed with a suitable liquid to provide a product which may be used in coal gasification or hydrogenation processes, or as a composite fuel, and which can be stored for extended periods without appreciable settling out of the coal from the mixture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An improved process for producing a particulate coal-in-liquid mixture comprising: a. grinding raw coal to a particle size of less than about 40 microns in a substantially air-free environment using a gaseous carrier medium to form a hydrophobic coal-fraction and a hydrophilic ash-fraction; b. contacting said fractions with an aqueous liquid whereby the particles constituting the ash fraction are wetted, but the particles constituting the coal fraction are left substantially dry; c. separating the ash particles from the coal particles; and d. mixing the coal particles with liquid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the liquid is a hydrocarbon. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the liquid is a hydrocarbon derivative. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the liquid is a hydrogen donor solvent. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The process of claim 4, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is a product of coal pyrolysis or hydrogenation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The process of claim 4, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is an aromatic petroleum oil. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The process of claim 4, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is an aromatic or polynuclear aromatic substance. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the liquid is an oil. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The process of claim 8, wherein the oil is a residual fuel oil. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The process of claim 8, wherein the oil is a distillate fuel oil. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises water and a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants. ### Claim 12 An improved process for producing a particulate coal-in-liquid mixture comprising: a. deaerating raw coal; b. grinding said coal to a particle size of less than about 40 microns in a substantially air free environment to form a hydrophobic coal-fraction and a hydrophilic ash-fraction; c. contacting said fractions with an aqueous liquid whereby the particles constituting the ash-fraction are wetted but the particles constituting the coal fraction are left substantially dry; d. separating the ash particles from the coal particles; and e. mixing the coal particles with liquid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12, wherein the liquid is a hydrocarbon. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12, wherein the liquid is a hydrocarbon derivative. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12, wherein the liquid is a hydrogen donor solvent. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The process of claim 15, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is a product of coal pyrolysis or hydrogenation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The process of claim 15, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is an aromatic petroleum oil. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The process of claim 15, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is an aromatic or polynuclear aromatic substance. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12, wherein the liquid is an oil. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The process of claim 19, wherein the oil is a residual fuel oil. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The process of claim 19, wherein the oil is a distillate fuel oil. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12, wherein the liquid comprises water and a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants. ### Claim 23 An improved process for producing a particulate coal-in-liquid mixture comprising: a. heating raw coal to reduce the moisture content thereof; b. deaerating the coal; c. grinding said coal to a particle size of less than about 40 microns in a substantially air free environment to form a hydrophobic coal-fraction and a hydrophilic ash-fraction; d. contacting said fractions with an aqueous liquid whereby the particles constituting the ash-fraction are wetted but the particles constituting the coal-fraction are left substantially dry; e. separating the ash particles from the coal particles; and f. mixing the coal particles with liquid. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The process of claim 23, wherein the liquid is a hydrocarbon. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The process of claim 23, wherein the liquid is a hydrocarbon derivative. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The process of claim 23, wherein the liquid is a hydrogen donor solvent. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The process of claim 26, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is a product of coal pyrolysis or hydrogenation. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The process of claim 26, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is an aromatic petroleum oil. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The process of claim 26, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is an aromatic or polynuclear aromatic substance. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) The process of claim 23, wherein the liquid is an oil. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The process of claim 30, wherein the oil is a residual fuel oil. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The process of claim 30, wherein the oil is a distillate fuel oil. ### Claim 33 (depends on 23) The process of claim 23, wherein the liquid comprises water and a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1, 12) The process according to claims 1, 12, or 23 wherein said separating step is carried out in a separation vessel having an inlet, a discharge, and wall means disposed between said inlet and said discharge defining a separation zone, said separation zone being surrounded at its outer periphery by an aqueous separation medium, and said separating step comprises subjecting said fractions to centrifugal force in said separation zone, collecting a substantial portion of the ash-fraction in said aqueous medium, and exhausting the coal-fraction from the interior of said separation zone through said discharge. ### Claim 35 (depends on 23) The process according to claim 23 wherein heating and deaerating of the coal are carried out simultaneously. ### Claim 36 (depends on 1, 12, 23) The process according to claims 1, 12, 23, or 35 wherein the steps of said process are carried out continuously. ### Claim 37 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33) The product produced according to the process of any one of claims 1 through 33. ### Claim 38 A stable particulate coal-in-liquid mixture wherein the coal particles have a particle size of less than 40 microns and are hydrophobic without the presence of a stabilizing agent in said mixture, said mixture having a ash content of less than about 5% of its total weight, and the ratio of ash to coal in said mixture being less than the ratio of ash to coal in the raw coal from which said mixture is produced. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The product of claim 38, wherein the liquid is a hydrocarbon. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The product of claim 38, wherein the liquid is a hydrocarbon derivative. ### Claim 41 (depends on 38) The product of claim 38, wherein the liquid is a hydrogen donor solvent. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The product of claim 41, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is a product of coal pyrolysis of hydrogenation. ### Claim 43 (depends on 41) The product of claim 41, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is an aromatic petroleum oil. ### Claim 44 (depends on 41) The product of claim 41, wherein the hydrogen donor solvent is an aromatic or polynuclear aromatic substance. ### Claim 45 (depends on 38) The product of claim 38, wherein the liquid is an oil. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The product of claim 45, wherein the liquid is a residual fuel oil. ### Claim 47 (depends on 45) The product of claim 45, wherein the oil is a distillate fuel oil. ### Claim 48 (depends on 38) The product of claim 38, wherein the liquid comprises water and a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants. ### Claim 49 (depends on 38) The particulate coal-in-liquid mixture of claim 38 wherein said coal particles are rendered hydrophobic as a result of being produced by grinding raw coal in a substantially air-free environment.