We've reported several times on the achievements of the University of North Dakota's Energy and Environmental Research Center in the liquefaction of coal, and their likely participation with the United States Air Force, in the proposed establishment of a coal-to-liquid conversion facility at or near the Malstrom USAF Base.
Herein, via the link enclosed above and the attached file, it's revealed that the University has been at work, for the USDOE, in the further development of processes to liquefy "low-rank coal", i.e., lignite, which would be lower in Btu content and higher in ash than West Virginia bituminous; but, which might compare in those respects to older accumulations of Appalachian coal mine wastes, at sites where the coal was mined specifically for eastern steel mills. Coal shipped from those mines had to be far "cleaner" than steam coal, and much carbonaceous product was separated and discarded along with incombustible waste during on-site cleaning and preparation processes.
So, from nearly fifteen years ago, we have:
"DIRECT LIQUEFACTION OF LOW-RANK COAL
Quarterly Technical Progress Report
for the period January 1 -March 31, 1995
Grant No. DE-FG22-94PC94050
Submitted to:
U.S. Department of Energy
Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center
PO Box 10940
Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940
Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center
PO Box 10940
Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940
Submitted by:
Melanie D. Hetland
Energy & Environmental Research Center
University of North Dakota
PO Box 9018
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9018
University of North Dakota
PO Box 9018
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9018
DISCLAIMER
This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.
April 1995
EERC DISCLAIMER
LEGAL NOTICE This research report was prepared by the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC), an agency of the University of North Dakota, as an account of work sponsored by U.S. Department of Energy. Because of the research nature of the work performed, neither the EERC nor any of its employees makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement or recommendation by the EERC.
DISCLAIMER
Portions of this document may be illegible in electronic image products. Images are produced from the best available original document."
Of course. We expect no less. But, we'll excerpt some brief portions of the report:
"DIRECT LIQUEFACTION OF LOW-RANK COAL
Grant No. DE-FG22-94PC94050
QUARTERLY TECHNICAL PROGRESS REPORT
for the period January 1 -March 31, 1995
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A multistep direct liquefaction process specifically aimed at low-rank coals (LRCs) has been developed at the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC). The process consists of a preconversion treatment to prepare the coal for solubilization, solubilization of the coal in the solvent, and polishing using a phenolic solvent or solvent blend to complete solubilization of the remaining material. The product of these three steps can then be upgraded during a traditional hydrogenation step.
This project will address two research questions necessary for the further development and scaleup of this process: 1) determination of the recyclability of the solvent used during solubilization and 2) determination of the minimum severity required for effective hydrotreatment of the liquid product. The project will be performed as two tasks,the first consisting of ten recycle tests and the second consisting of twelve hydrotreatment tests performed at various
conditions.
conditions.
Several activities were performed during this quarter.
The composite solvent was redistilled to verify that the light material could be quantitatively recovered from the heavier vehicle solvent fraction.
Additional heavy fraction was prepared from coal derived hydrogenated anthracene oil (HA061) for use as the vehicle solvent during the Task 1tests.
(Note: We have previously documented the effective use of coal-derived oils, i.e., "anthracene", as coal solvents and hydrogenating agents.)
A simulated product slurry was prepared and distilled to verify that the water, cresylic acid (POW, and HA061 light fraction could be separated from the coal andlor coal-derived liquids.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Direct liquefaction research at the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) has, for a number of years, concentrated on developing a direct liquefaction process specifically for low-rank coals (LRCs) through the use of hydrogen donating solvents and solvents similar to coal derived liquids, the water/gas shift reaction, and lower-severity reaction conditions. The underlying assumption of all of the research was that advantage could be taken of the reactivity and specific qualities of LRCs to produce a tetrahydrofuran (THF)-soluble material that might be easier to upgrade than the soluble residuum produced during direct liquefaction of high-rank coals. A multistep approach was taken to produce the THF-soluble material, consisting of 1) preconversion treatment to prepare the coal for solubilization, 2) solubilization of the coal in the solvent, and 3) polishing to complete solubilization of the remaining material. The product of these three steps can then be upgraded during a traditional hydrogenation step.
Direct liquefaction research at the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) has, for a number of years, concentrated on developing a direct liquefaction process specifically for low-rank coals (LRCs) through the use of hydrogen donating solvents and solvents similar to coal derived liquids, the water/gas shift reaction, and lower-severity reaction conditions. The underlying assumption of all of the research was that advantage could be taken of the reactivity and specific qualities of LRCs to produce a tetrahydrofuran (THF)-soluble material that might be easier to upgrade than the soluble residuum produced during direct liquefaction of high-rank coals. A multistep approach was taken to produce the THF-soluble material, consisting of 1) preconversion treatment to prepare the coal for solubilization, 2) solubilization of the coal in the solvent, and 3) polishing to complete solubilization of the remaining material. The product of these three steps can then be upgraded during a traditional hydrogenation step.
(Did, or does, anyone in Appalachian Coal Country know there was/is such a thing as "a traditional hydrogenation step" in the preparation of coal liquids? Is anything, about any of this, so established and commonplace as to be considered "traditional"?)
The results of the EERC’s research indicated that additional studies to more fully develop this process were justified. Two areas were targeted for further research: 1)determination of the recyclability of the solvent used during solubilization and 2) determination of the minimum severity required for hydrotreatment of the liquid product. This project addresses these two areas.
(Further work is at least "justified". But, when are we, like the Germans and Japanese during WWII, and like the South Africans for the last several decades, going to stop talking about justifications, and just start doing it? - JtM)
4.0 FUTUREOBJECTIVES
The Task 1and Task 2 tests will be performed, the products analyzed, and the data reduced and interpreted. Quality assurance checks will be performed as outlined in the project quality assurance plan. Preparation of the final technical report will begin during the next quarter."
The Task 1and Task 2 tests will be performed, the products analyzed, and the data reduced and interpreted. Quality assurance checks will be performed as outlined in the project quality assurance plan. Preparation of the final technical report will begin during the next quarter."
Well that "next quarter", during which they were to begin "Preparation of the final technical report", would have been April-June, 1995. Fourteen and a half years ago.