WV Coal Member Meeting 2024 1240x200 1 1

Utah CoalTL Synergies

In further documentation of our reports that scrap automobile tires improve the yield of liquid fuels from coal conversion processes, as has been discovered, variously, by researchers in Japan and the UK, and at WVU, we submit herein three related reports of similar findings from scientists at the University of Utah.
 
Note, as well, brief mention if other waste plastics, in confirmation of yet other reports we've made, as even another class of material that can be processed along with coal to improve the efficiencies and yields from liquid fuel conversion processes.
 
Links and excerpts:
 
 
Coprocessing waste rubber tire material and coal 

Edward C. Orr, John A. Burghard, Wisanu Tuntawiroon, Larry L. Anderson and Edward M. Eyring

Department of Chemistry and Department of Chemical and Fuels Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA

Abstract

Blind Canyon DECS-6 coal (BC6) was reacted with ground waste rubber tire (WRT) particles and pyrolyzed tire oil (PTO) recovered by vacuum pyrolysis of WRT in an investigation of the feasibility of coprocessing coal and waste tire materials to make transportation fuels. ... A synergistic effect (beneficial effect of reacting coal and WRT together that is not observed when coal and WRT are reacted individually) was observed ...  The synergism observed for PTO/BC6 reactions may be related to the presence of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHC) in the PTO. It was found that ... the BC6/PTO mixture yields more product liquids as well as diminished carbon black contamination of liquid products.

 
Vacuum pyrolyzed tire oil as a coal solvent  

E. C. Orr 

Abstract

Tyre oil obtained by vacuum pyrolysis of waste rubber tyres is better than shredded tyres for coprocessing with coal. The PTO appears to be a good dissolution solvent for the coal and an effective hydrogen donor. The solvent readily enters the coal matrix thus aiding catalyst dispersion.


 
Waste oils used as solvents for different ranks of coal 

Edward C. Orr, Yanlong Shi, Lian Shao, Jing Liang, Weibing Ding, Larry L. Anderson and Edward M. Eyring

Department of Chemistry and Department of Chemical and Fuels Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA

Abstract

The effect of using different waste oils as solvent media for the liquefaction of lignite, subbituminous, and bituminous coals was investigated using tubing reactors. The waste oils utilized were waste automobile crankcase oil, oil produced by vacuum pyrolysis of waste rubber tires, and oil produced from vacuum pyrolysis of waste plastics. Coprocessing the vacuum pyrolyzed tire oil with Illinois no. 6 coal gave the best overall conversion.

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Although scrapped auto tires and waste plastics might make only a relatively small contribution to the production of liquid fuels, relative to coal and botanical cellulose, and relative to our total US demand for liquid fuels, they do make a synergistic contribution, and it is a contribution that provides the additional benefits of cleaning up our physical environment and eliminating the increasing costs of waste disposal.