Sulfur Aids Coal Liquefaction

Liquid sulphur dioxide — a reagent for the separation of coal liquids

 

We submitted earlier reports which indicated that the presence of Sulfur was actually something positive, in terms of coal liquefaction. Sulfur can, through several established commercial processes, be reclaimed from effluent gasses and liquids, and then be profitably sold into several existing markets for it. More than that, it's presence seemed, according to those earlier reports, to facilitate the conversion of coal into liquids.

 

Herein is more documentation of it's beneficial effect on the coal-to-liquid process.

 

The excerpt:

Abstract

Liquid sulfur dioxide has been found to be an excellent solvent for coal derived liquids. The higher alkanes and mineral matter are insoluble in this solvent and they are effectively separated. The sulfur dioxide-soluble fraction is very low in ash content. However, no improvement is achieved with respect to sulfur content. The soluble fraction has been separated by gel permeation chromatography and a large number of components have been identified."

First, when SO2  - which we presume could be extracted and made from the coal feed itself - is used to "clean" liquids derived from coal, it would, we think, be expected that "no improvement is achieved with respect to sulfur content".However, minerals and other, perhaps unwanted, substances "are effectively separated".

And, this report comes from Texas A&M University. Again, we question the now-obvious decentralization of coal-to-liquid conversion development and research; and, the fact that so much of it has seemingly been performed by institutions not geographically situate at the center of our US coal universe.

Finally, though, this is another "dated" report - from 1980 - which has no apparent broad publication credits. Why, would you speculate, has there been so little apparently achieved since then?

If you do look for an answer, perhaps you should check out back. Maybe somebody hid one in the Bushes.