Claims
- 1. A method for enhancing the mass transfer of reactive agents into and reaction products out of coal comprising the steps of:
- suspending particulate coal in a solvent media having a solubility parameter between 10 to 20 Hildebrand units, said coal having a solubility parameter spectrum exhibiting one or more maximum peaks and the solubility parameter of said media being within 1 Hildebrand unit of one of said peaks.
- 2. The improvement of said claim 1 wherein said coal has a solubility parameter spectrum exhibiting, a first lower solubility parameter maximum peak and a second higher solubility parameter maximum peak wherein the improvement comprises suspending said coal in a solvent media having a solubility parameter within 1 Hildebrand units on either side of either of said first or second maximum peaks.
- 3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said solvent media has a solubility parameter within 1 Hildebrand units on either side of said first maximum peak.
- 4. A method according to claim 3 in which said coal contains sulfur; said reactive agent is a sulfur oxidizing agent and said media comprises methanol.
- 5. A method according to claim 4 in which said first maximum peak is about 10.7.
- 6. A method according to claim 4 in which said oxidizing agent is a chlorinizing agent.
- 7. A method according to claim 6 in which the agent is gaseous chlorine which is added to said suspension.
- 8. A method according to claim 5 wherein said solvent media consists essentially of between 40 and 60 volumer percent of a chlorine resistant solvent and between 40 and 60 volume percent methanol.
- 9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said solvent media contains about 50 volume percent methanol and 50 volume percent carbon tetrachloride.
- 10. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said method enhances liquefaction by dissolution of increased amounts of said coal.
- 11. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said coal is a high sulfur coal having more than 0.8 weight percent organic sulfur.
- 12. A method of desulfurizing particulate coal having a solubility parameter spectrum exhibiting a first lower maximum peak and a second higher maximum peak comprising the steps of:
- suspending the coal in a mass transfer and solvent media having a solubility parameter between 10 and 20 Hildebrand units and within 1 Hildebrand unit on either side of said first maximum peak;
- oxidizing the sulfur in said coal by passing an oxidizing gas through said slurry at a temperature below about 150.degree. C. to form water soluble sulfur compounds; and
- separating said oxidized coal from the water soluble sulfur compounds and from the mass transfer and solvent media.
- 13. A method according to claim 12 wherein said coal has an organic sulfur content of greater than 1.0 weight percent.
- 14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said mass transfer media contains methanol.
- 15. A method according to claim 14 wherein said mass transfer media contains between 40 and 60 volume percent methanol and 40 and 60 volume percent of a chlorine resistant solvent.
- 16. A method according to claim 15 wherein said mass transfer media contains about 50 volume percent methanol and 50 volume percent carbon tetrachloride.
ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION
The invention described herein was made in the performance of work under a NASA contract and is subject to the provisions of Section 305 of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, Public Law 83-568 (72 Stat 435; 42 USC 2457).
US Referenced Citations (5)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
645055 |
Oct 1950 |
GBX |