Zhigang Wu, Ryan P. Rodgers and Alan G. Marshall
Ion Cyclotron Resonance Program, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University, 1800 East Paul Dirac Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32310-4005, USA
Zhigang Wu, Ryan P. Rodgers and Alan G. Marshall
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
Abstract
We have applied electrospray ionization (ESI) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) to analyze the pyridine soluble fraction of a distillation resid and a further processed liquid product in a coal liquefaction process. The inherent high resolving power and mass accuracy of FT-ICR MS makes it possible to resolve and identify polar heteroatomic species. The resid contains more heteroatomic compounds and a higher molecular weight distribution whereas the liquid sample is lower in average mass and more saturated. The data confirms that the liquefaction process produces lower mass, hydrogenated liquid product whereas the resid (highly aromatic and of high heteroatom content) must be recycled to reduce its heteroatom content and increase its degree of saturation."
Now, we have no idea where Florida State actually got coal, or coal liquids, to fiddle around with, unless Coach Bowden smuggled some out of West Virginia in his suitcase when he defected many decades ago.
But, get coal liquids they did. And, they confirm that coal can be transformed into an "hydrogenated liquid product", and, that, as we have documented from other sources, "resid", or residual mass left over from the initial liquefaction of coal, can be "recycled to reduce" impurities "and increase its degree of saturation."
That is, as we have previously reported from other sources, residual carbonaceous material left behind by primary coal liquefaction processes can itself be processed, "recycled", via different techniques, to remove "heteroatomic" contaminants, such as Sulfur, as per earlier references, "increase its degree of saturation", and thus yield even more hydrocarbon liquids suitable for refining into fuel.
In a state where they have no coal, the Florida State Seminoles know that coal can be efficiently, and thoroughly, converted into liquids that can be refined into clean substitutes for the petroleum-based fuels currently used by our US transportation fleet.