Via the enclosed link, you can access a rather compendious file, an edited and abbreviated copy of which, more than 180+ pages in it's original format, we are also attaching for your convenience, entitled:
Coal/Polymer Coprocessing with Efficient Use of Hydrogen
Some excerpts:
"Dr. Linda J. Broadbelt and Matthew J. De Witt
"Dr. Linda J. Broadbelt and Matthew J. De Witt
Northwestern University
2145 Sheridan Road
Department of Chemical Engineering
Evanston, IL 60208
This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United
States Government.
2145 Sheridan Road
Department of Chemical Engineering
Evanston, IL 60208
This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United
States Government.
ABSTRACT
Environmental and economical concerns over diminishing landfill space and the growing
abundance of mixed plastic waste mandate development of viable strategies for recovering high-
valued resources from waste polymers. Co-processing of waste polymer mixtures with coal
allows for the simultaneous conversion of coal and plastics into high-valued fuels. However, there
is limited information about the underlying reaction pathways, kinetics, and mechanisms
controlling coal liquefaction in the presence of polymeric materials.
abundance of mixed plastic waste mandate development of viable strategies for recovering high-
valued resources from waste polymers. Co-processing of waste polymer mixtures with coal
allows for the simultaneous conversion of coal and plastics into high-valued fuels. However, there
is limited information about the underlying reaction pathways, kinetics, and mechanisms
controlling coal liquefaction in the presence of polymeric materials.
INTRODUCTION
Recently, concerns over the inadequacy of current treatment and disposal methods for
mixed plastic wastes have driven the exploration of new strategies for viable plastics resource
recovery. The emphasis of the recovery is to obtain high-valued, useful products from the waste
polymers. Post-consumer waste plastics are a major contributor to the municipal solid waste
(MSW) stream, constituting approximately 11% by weight and 21% by volume of waste in
landfills [1]. Over 40% of the landfills in the United States were closed in the past decade, and it is
estimated that over half of the remaining ones will be full by the end of the century [2]. This poses
a significant dilemma since there appears to be no immediate decrease in the usage of plastic
products; in fact, due to their versatility, the usage will most likely increase.
mixed plastic wastes have driven the exploration of new strategies for viable plastics resource
recovery. The emphasis of the recovery is to obtain high-valued, useful products from the waste
polymers. Post-consumer waste plastics are a major contributor to the municipal solid waste
(MSW) stream, constituting approximately 11% by weight and 21% by volume of waste in
landfills [1]. Over 40% of the landfills in the United States were closed in the past decade, and it is
estimated that over half of the remaining ones will be full by the end of the century [2]. This poses
a significant dilemma since there appears to be no immediate decrease in the usage of plastic
products; in fact, due to their versatility, the usage will most likely increase.
Coprocessing of polymeric waste with other materials may provide potential solutions to
the deficiencies of current resource recovery processes, including unfavorable process economics.
By incorporating polymeric waste as a minor feed into an existing process, variations in plastic
supply and composition could be mediated and as a result, allow for continuous operation. One
option for coprocessing is to react polymeric waste with coal under direct liquefaction conditions.
Coprocessing of polymeric waste with coal provides for simultaneous conversion of both
feedstocks into high-valued fuels and chemicals."
the deficiencies of current resource recovery processes, including unfavorable process economics.
By incorporating polymeric waste as a minor feed into an existing process, variations in plastic
supply and composition could be mediated and as a result, allow for continuous operation. One
option for coprocessing is to react polymeric waste with coal under direct liquefaction conditions.
Coprocessing of polymeric waste with coal provides for simultaneous conversion of both
feedstocks into high-valued fuels and chemicals."
The book is full, detailed and complex; so much so that we will not attempt further excerpts. However, to compress it enough for transmission, we had to edit, and convert it into a "text" file, so some graphics were lost; and, the formatting doesn't enable easy browsing. Some, perhaps important, data is lost in the text version. It is not recommended reading. We send it primarily as testament to the detailed understanding which has been generated, and which does exist, about the technology for converting coal into liquid fuel raw materials, and doing so in ways that enhance and improve the efficiency of the conversion process, while utilizing a class of resources that have until now been thought of as little more than troublesome wastes.
We will note that Northwestern, in completing this project for the US Department of Energy, collaborated with the University of Kentucky on coal liquefaction issues.
Their findings echo similar research reports we've called to your attention. Liquefying coal and plastic wastes, together, is synergistic. They each provide elemental and molecular components to the liquefaction process that complement each other, and thereby enhance and maximize the production of liquid fuel raw materials.
This report was prepared for, and provided to, the United States Government. Why haven't we United States citizens, especially those of us resident in US Coal Country, been apprised of it's contents?
And, why has nothing yet been done to reduce to practice the finding that the "Coprocessing of polymeric waste with coal provides for simultaneous conversion of both feedstocks into high-valued fuels and chemicals"?