Gulf + Western Industries

The Standard Oil Company

Karl M Fox

Lester E Burgess

Phillip E McGarry

David E Herman

An improved process for the beneficiation of coal and the separation of impurities therefrom comprising subjecting coal to surface treatment by contact with an aqueous medium comprising polymerizable monomer, polymerization catalyst and liquid organic carrier, thereby rendering said coal hydrophobic and oleophilic, the improvement comprising the high shear intermixing of the surface treated coal with at least one water wash medium thereby providing for the removal of further hydrophilic impurities, such as mineral ash from the coal. Apparatus for carrying out the process and the products prepared therefrom are also provided.

Apparatus for the enhanced separation of impurities from coal

Mine run coal is pulverized and the extended surfaces of the coal particles are rendered hydrophobic and oilophilic by a chemical bonding and graft polymerization reaction with a water unsoluble organic polymerizable monomer under peroxidation influence in a predominantly water reaction medium. The mineral ash present in the coal and particularly the iron pyrites remains hydrophilic and is separated from the polymeric organic surface bonded coal product in a water washing step wherein the washed coal floats on and is recovered from the water phase and the ash is removed with the separated wash water in a critical wash step. Excess water is removed from the beneficiated hydrophobic surface-altered coal product mechanically. The hydrophobic and oilophilic organic polymeric surface bonded coating about the coal particles is fortified by inclusion of additional unbound free fatty acids by further small additions thereof. The carboxylic acid groups present in the coal-oil product are thereafter converted to a metal soap. The beneficiated coal product can be used 'dry', or additional quantities of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel can be incorporated with the 'dry' beneficiated coal product to produce a flowable fluid or liquid coal product having the rheological property of marked thixotropy. Introduction of this physically induced property into the liquid coal-oil-mixture prevents settling out of the heavier coal particles from the relatively ash-free fluid fuel composition under extended storage periods.

Apparatus for beneficiating coal

A process for the production of beneficiated coal and coal slurries having low ash, and sulfur involving admixing coal in an aqueous medium with a surface treating admixture comprising a polymerizable monomer, polymerization catalyst and a liquid organic carrier thereby rendering said coal highly hydrophobic and oleophilic. The resultant beneficiated coal product is formed into coal slurries, such as coal-oil mixtures.

Beneficiated coal, coal mixtures and processes for the production thereof

Process for the enhanced separation of impurities from coal and coal

Mine run coal is pulverized and the extended surfaces of the coal particles are rendered hydrophobic and oilophilic by a chemical bonding and graft polymerization reaction with a water insoluble organic polymerizable monomer under peroxidation influence in a predominantly water reaction medium. The mineral ash present in the coal and particularly the iron pyrites remains hydrophilic and is separated from the polymeric organic surface bonded coal product in a water washing step wherein the washed coal floats on and is recovered from the water phase and the ash is removed with the separated wash water in a critical wash step. Excess water is removed from the beneficiated hydrophobic surface-altered coal product mechanically. The hydrophobic and oilophilic organic polymeric surface bonded coating about the coal particles is fortified by inclusion of additional unbound free fatty acids by further small additions thereof. The carboxylic acid groups present in the coal-oil product are thereafter converted to a metal soap. The beneficiated coal product can be used 'dry,' or additional quantities of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel can be incorporated with the 'dry' beneficiated coal product to produce a flowable fluid or liquid coal product having the rheological property of marked thixotropy. Introduction of this physically induced property into the liquid coal-oil-mixture prevents settling out of the heavier coal particles from the relatively ash-free fluid fuel composition under extended storage periods.

Process for beneficiating coal

Mine run coal is pulverized and the extended surfaces of the coal particles are rendered hydrophobic and oilophilic by a chemical bonding and graft polymerization reaction with a water unsoluble organic polymerizable monomer under peroxidation influence in a predominantly water reaction medium. The mineral ash present in the coal and particularly the iron pyrites remains hydrophilic and is separated from the polymeric organic surface bonded coal product in a water washing step wherein the washed coal floats on and is recovered from the water phase and the ash is removed with the separated wash water in a critical wash step. The hydrophobic and oilophilic organic polymeric surface bonded coating about the coal particles is fortified by inclusion of additional unbound free fatty acids by further small additions thereof. Excess water is removed from the beneficiated hydrophobic surface-altered coal product mechanically, and the carboxylic acid groups present in the coal-oil product are thereafter converted to a metal soap. The beneficiated coal product can be used 'dry', or additional quantities of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel can be incorporated with the 'dry' beneficiated coal product to produce a flowable fluid or liquid coal product having the rheological property of marked thixotropy. Introduction of this physically induced property into the liquid coal-oil-mixture prevents settling out of the heavier coal particles from the relatively ash-free fluid fuel composition under extended storage periods.

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Swarthmore, PA, United States of America

Karl M Fox