Integrated low severity alcohol-base coal liquefaction process
AssigneeAmoco Corporation
InventorsJoseph T. Joseph, Marc G. Davidson, Joseph D. Fox
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Abstract
An improved, low severity coal liquefaction process is disclosed. In accordance with the process, coal is first decarboxylated and demineralized with hot sulfurous acid. The decarboxylated coal is then liquefied in the presence of an alcohol and an alkali metal hydroxide. In several embodiments, alkali metal-containing materials are reclaimed to produce alkali metal hydroxide for the liquefaction step. In other embodiments, the liquefaction is conducted in the presence of a relatively high-boiling diluent such as a coal-derived liquid.
Claims18
A low severity liquefaction process comprising the steps of:
- reacting a solid carbonaceous material and sulfurous acid under decarboxylation conditions at a temperature between 200.degree. and 375.degree. C. and at a pressure between 300 and 1000 psi to decarboxylate the solid material and dissolve minerals present in the solid material;
- and
- liquefying the decarboxylated solid under liquefaction conditions at a temperature between 200.degree. and 375.degree. C. and at a pressure between 300 and 1000 psi in the presence of at least one alkali metal hydroxide and at least one alcohol having one to four carbon atoms to produce a hydrocarbon-containing liquid.
A low severity coal liquefaction process comprising the steps of:
- reacting coal and sulfurous acid under decarboxylation conditions at a temperature between 200.degree. and 375.degree. C. and at a pressure between 300 and 1000 psi to decarboxylate and demineralize the coal;
- recovering the decarboxylated, demineralized coal from a solution containing dissolved coal minerals;
- and
- liquefying the decarboxylated coal in the presence of methanol and sodium hydroxide under liquefaction conditions at a temperature between 200.degree. and 375.degree. C. and at a pressure between 300 and 1000 psi to produce a coal-drived liquid.
A low severity coal liquefaction process comprising the steps of:
- reacting coal and sulfurous acid under decarboxylation conditions at a temperature between 200.degree. and 375.degree. C. and at a pressure between 300 and 1000 psi to decarboxylate and demineralize the coal;
- separating the decarboxylated, demineralized coal from soluble minerals derived from the coal;
- liquefying one part by weight of the decarboxylated coal in the presence of at least 1 part by weight of methanol and 0.75 parts by weight of sodium hydroxide under liquefaction conditions at a temperature between 200.degree. and 375.degree. and at a pressure between 300 and 1000 psi to produce a methanol-containing coal-derived liquid;
- separating methanol from the coal-derived liquid;
- reusing the separated methanol as a reactant in the liquefying step;
- separating a sodium-containing sludge from the coal derived-liquid;
- heating the sludge to burn carbonaceous material contained therein and to convert sodium-containing compounds contained therein to sodium oxide;
- leaching the sodium oxide with water to produce heat and recycled sodium hydroxide;
- and
- using the recycled sodium hydroxide as a reactant in the liquefying step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.