Claims
- 1. In a process in which low rank coal is oxidized, dried and cooled for reducing its tendency toward spontaneous combustion, an improvement comprising:
- contacting particulate coal with an aqueous oxidant solution which becomes substantially homogeneously distributed over the surfaces of the coal particles, without adding more than about 10% by weight of water to the coal;
- said solution containing an oxidizing agent containing combined oxygen;
- drying the oxidant solution wetted coal by heating the coal particles to a temperature between about 100.degree. F. and about 400.degree. F. to reduce the moisture content to substantially the moisture content desired for the coal product; and
- cooling the so-treated coal to a temperature of less than about 100.degree. F.
- 2. The process of claim 1 in which the coal is separated into relatively coarse and fine fractions, the aqueous oxidant solution is applied to both fractions, the oxidant-containing fines fraction is dried, and the so-treated fractions are mixed.
- 3. The process of claim 2 in which the oxidant-containing coarse fraction is mixed with the oxidant-containing dried fines fraction before the so-treated fractions are cooled.
- 4. The process of claim 1 in which the coal is separated into relatively coarse and fine fractions, the aqueous oxidant solution is applied to the fine fraction, the oxidant-containing fines fraction is dried, and the fractions are mixed.
- 5. The process of claim 1 in which the oxygen-containing oxidizing agent is a member selected from the group consisting of perchlorates, chlorates, peroxides, hypochlorites, and nitrates.
- 6. The process of claim 1 in which the oxygen-containing oxidizing agent is ammonium perchlorate.
- 7. The process of claim 1 in which the oxygen-containing oxidizing agent is ammonium nitrate.
- 8. The process of claim 1 in which the coal is heated to a temperature between about 100.degree. F. and about 300.degree. F.
- 9. The process of claim 1 in which the coal is heated to a temperature between about 150.degree. F. and about 250.degree. F.
- 10. The process of claim 1 in which the coal is heated to a temperature between about 100.degree. F. and about 150.degree. F.
- 11. The process of claim 1 in which the water added by the aqueous oxidant solution is not more than about 2% by weight.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 943,455, filed 12/19/86, abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
943455 |
Dec 1986 |
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