Extraction, separation and analysis of high sulfur coal. (Technical progress report), December 21, 1988--March 20, 1989

摘要

During this quarter the studies on the selective desulfurization of coal were initiated. Specifically most of our efforts this quarter were place in developing selective reaction chemistries within a supercritical carbon dioxide system that would provide significant desulfurization of the organic matrix of coal. The first system of interest is the possible desulfurization of coal by oxidation with solvated cupric ions. The reaction of copper chloride with sulfur moieties in coal was first studied by Lompa-Krzymien. (As mention in the original proposal). In the case of Lompa-Krzymien's work this reaction was claimed to yield desulfurization rates as high as 95% for Prince Coal from Nova Scotia. Later work by Singh et al. confirmed that coal could be desulfurized by copper chloride but the percentage desulfurization was always lower than that described by LompaKrzymien. Now that we have managed to dissolve the oxidant in a supercritical system, we will search for conditions under which the redox reaction is allowed in the supercritical state. In addition, we will be running parallel reactions of the model coal compounds in the pure liquid modifier to provide a reference for the reactivity of the oxidant in liquids. We will also be looking at the possible use of other oxidants in additions to cupric salts.