US 5,296,007 A · Process for removing sulfur from coal

Abstract

A process for reducing the sulfur content of coal containing pyritic and organic sulfur comprising: contacting the coal with less than the molar stoichiometric amount of at least one +5 vanadium component and at least one reducible manganese component at selected conditions effective to oxidize at least a portion of the sulfur in the coal; reducing the sulfur content of the oxidized sulfur-containing coal; and recovering a coal product having a reduced sulfur content. In another embodiment, the process involves the use of certain plant derived ortho-quinone containing components, in particular, certain lignin and/or tannin derived components containing ortho-quinone functionality, to oxidize at least a portion of at least one of the pyritic and organic sulfur materials in the coal. Preferred compositions comprise at least one ligno sulfonate component containing ortho-quinone functionality. In the process, the use of at least one additional oxidant capable for maintaining the ortho-quinone containing functionality in the desired oxidation state provides for integrated process synergy.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A process for reducing the sulfur content of coal containing metal pyrites and organic sulfur comprising:

contacting said coal with at least one vanadium component in which vanadium is present in the +5 oxidation state effective to promote the oxidation of said metal pyrites and organic sulfur at conditions including a temperature of less than about 100.degree. C. effective to oxidize at least a portion of said metal pyrites and said organic sulfur in said coal and form an oxidized sulfur-containing coal said contacting occurring in the presence of Cu++ ion in an amount sufficient to promote the oxidation of organic sulfur and at least one reducible manganese component in an amount effective as a vanadium oxidant to provide at least one of the following:
(A) maintain said vanadium component and (B) produce at least a portion of said vanadium component and at least one additional added oxidant effective to oxidize a reduced manganese component to produce reducible manganese component, the total amount of said reducible manganese component and said vanadium component present being less than the molar stoichiometric amount needed to fully oxidize the organic sulfur and metal pyrites in said coals;
reducing the metal pyrites and organic sulfur content of said oxidized sulfur-containing coal;
and recovering a coal product having a reduced metal pyrites and organic sulfur content.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Process for removing sulfur from coal

Life of this patent

Process for removing sulfur from coal

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20