Ensci Inc.

John W Sibert

Thomas J Clough

Arthur C Riese

A process for reducing the sulfur content of coal containing pyritic and organic sulfur comprising: contacting the coal with less than the molar stoichiometric amount of at least one +5 vanadium component and at least one reducible manganese component at selected conditions effective to oxidize at least a portion of the sulfur in the coal; reducing the sulfur content of the oxidized sulfur-containing coal; and recovering a coal product having a reduced sulfur content. In another embodiment, the process involves the use of certain plant derived ortho-quinone containing components, in particular, certain lignin and/or tannin derived components containing ortho-quinone functionality, to oxidize at least a portion of at least one of the pyritic and organic sulfur materials in the coal. Preferred compositions comprise at least one ligno sulfonate component containing ortho-quinone functionality. In the process, the use of at least one additional oxidant capable for maintaining the ortho-quinone containing functionality in the desired oxidation state provides for integrated process synergy.

Process for removing sulfur from coal

A process for chemically modifying at least one component of a hydrocarbon-based material comprising: contacting the hydrocarbon-based material with at least one metal component selected from the group consisting of vanadium components in which vanadium is present in the 5+ oxidation state in an amount effective to promote the chemical modification of at least one component of the hydrocarbon-based material, iron components in which iron is present in the 3+ oxidation state in an amount effective to promote the chemical modification of at least one component of the hydrocarbon-based material, managanese components in which manganese is present in the 3+ oxidation state in an amount effective to promote the chemical modification of at least one component of the hydrocarbon-based material and mixtures thereof, and at least one oxygen transfer agent in an amount effective to do at least one of the following: maintain at least partially the promoting activity of the metal component; produce at least a portion of metal component; and oxidize at least a portion of the component of the hydrocarbon-based material, the contacting occurring at conditions effective to chemically modify the component of the hydrocarbon-based material.

Process for treating hydrocarbons

A process for recovering a first metal, e.g., gold, from a carbonaceous ore comprising contacting the ore with an added metal component other than an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal component in an amount effective to at least promote the oxidation of carbonaceous material in the ore, the contacting occurring at conditions effective to (1) chemically oxidize at least a portion of the carbonaceous material, and (2) at least partially liberate the first metal from the ore; and recovering the first metal from the ore.

Metal value recovery from carbonaceous ores

A process for at least one of (1) recovering at least one first metal other than manganese from a first ore containing reducible manganese, and (2) recovering at least one second metal from a second ore containing the second metal and at least one metal sulfide of a metal other than the second metal and manganese; the process comprising at least one of: (A) contacting the first ore with an aqueous composition and a material containing at least one metal sulfide in the presence of a metal redox couple more positive than about +0.1 versus the standard hydrogen electrode, W. M. Latimer convention, at conditions effective to (1) chemically reduce at least a portion of the manganese, (2) oxidize at least a portion of the metal and/or the sulfide from the metal sulfide, and (3) at least partially liberate the first metal from the first ore, and recovering the first metal from the first ore; and (B) contacting the second ore with an aqueous composition and at least one reducible manganese-containing material in the presence of a metal redox couple more positive than about +0.1 versus the standard hydrogen electrode, W. M. Latimer convention, at conditions effective to (1) chemically reduce at least a portion of the manganese, (2) oxidize at least a portion of the metal and/or the sulfide from the metal sulfide, and (3) at least partially liberate the second metal from the second ore, and recovering the second metal from the second ore.

Growing community of inventors

Malibu, CA, United States of America

John W Sibert