US 6,530,966 B1 · Coal binder compositions and methods

Abstract

Binder compositions for converting coal waste into fuel including a distillable petroleum hydrocarbon emulsified with a surfactant and water are provided. The invention also includes methods for making the binder compositions. The methods include blending a distillable petroleum hydrocarbon petroleum hydrocarbon with water and a surfactant. In another aspect, a fuel product is provided which includes the reaction product of carbonaceous fine particles and a binder composition of this invention. The binder composition is provided in an amount necessary to increase the hydrophobic characteristics of the carbonaceous fine particles and bring about a statistically significant change in their chemistry. In one embodiment the binder composition is present in an amount between about 1.5 percent and about 4.0 percent of the total weight. Methods are also provided for making fuel from fine carbonaceous materials, which include exposing the carbonaceous materials to a binder composition of this invention.

Claims16

Dependent claims

Agglomerated fuel particles comprising agglomerated particles of carbonaceous material fines, selected from the group consisting of coke breeze, coke fines, finely divided metallurgic coke, coal fines, revert materials and mixtures thereof, produced by:

a) contacting individual particles of the carbonaceous material fines with an emulsion, said emulsion being:
(i) produced by emulsifying a distillable liquid petroleum hydrocarbon having a flash point greater than 120° C. with a surfactant and from about 25 weight percent to about 75 weight percent water, based upon the total weight of the distillable liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, surfactant and water to form said emulsion;
and
(ii) in a sufficient amount so that said individual particles of the carbonaccous material fines are coated with said distillable liquid petroleum hydrocarbon and coated surfaces of said individual particles of the carbonaceous material fines are rendered hydrophobic;
and
b) allowing the distillable liquid petroleum hydrocarbon component of the emulsion to coat the individual particles of the carbonaceous material fines to thereby render the coated surfaces of said individual particles of the carbonaceous material fines hydrophobic.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Coal binder compositions and methods

Life of this patent

Coal binder compositions and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16