Chemical coal cleaning using selective oxidation

Abstract

The combustion of high sulfur coals contributes substantially to the problems associated with acid rain. Current and pending clean air legislation is designed to reduce _his problem by cutting the levels of sulfur dioxide that may be released into the atmosphere. These new laws prevent the direct and efficient utilization of many important Illinois coals reserves which, unfortunately are high in sulfur. This may present the already troubled Illinois coal industry with a difficult future if solutions to the sulfur problem are nct found.

A Novel Approach to Catalytic Desulfurization of Coal

“…Optimize the coal desulfurization reaction with respect to time, temperature, coal type, and Coal (S) + excess PR 3 Coal + S=PR 3 /PBu 3 (1) The R groups (including R = H), and also on extraction, impregnation and sonication conditions. B. Optimize the conditions for the HDS reaction H 2 + S=PR 3 H 2 S + PR 3 (2) (which allows the PR 3 to function as an HDS catalyst for coal) with respect to R group, temperature, pressure, H 2 gas flow rate and inert solvent presence.…”

“…Determine the product(s) and the pathway of the novel redox reaction that appears to + PR 3 reflux (no solvent) S=PR 3 + ? S DBT quantitatively remove sulfur from dibenzothiophene (DBT) when R=Bu when FeCl 3 is used as a catalyst.…”

“…Determine the nature of the presently unextractable phosphorus compounds formed in solid Coals by PR 3 .…”

“…Explore the possibility of using water soluble PR 3 compounds and Fe 3+ to remove sulfur from petroleum feed stocks and heavy ends in order to remove the SPR 3 (and Fe 3+ catalyst) by water extraction (for subsequent HDS of the SPR 3 ).…”

“…Explore the possibility of using solid-supported PR 3 compounds (plus Fe 3+ catalyst) to remove sulfur from petroleum feedstocks and heavy ends in order to keep the oil and the SPR 3 (formed in the reaction) in easily separable phases.…”