- Details
Coliquefaction of coal and waste polymers
Confirming the work of the researchers in Pakistan and at the University of Kentucky, scientists at the University of Utah also find great potential value in liquefying coal and some types of plastic waste together to generate the raw materials for liquid fuel synthesis.
The excerpt:
"L.L. Anderson, W. Tuntawiroon and W.B. Ding
Chemical & Fuels Eng. Department - University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT 84112 USA
It has been shown that processing of coal to liquids can be done with high yields of liquids. Plastic materials. either pure as a commingled plastic waste containing different colors and impurities, can be processed with nearly 100% conversion to liquids and gases. Combinations of coal with plastic material can be processed to final products but with less conversion than expected from interpolation of the data from processing coal alone and plastic alone. Polymerization catalysts such as Titanium compounds can be utilized to depolymerize plastic materials containing HDPE at temperatures above 420 Bifunctional hydrogenation/hydrocracking catalysts can improve the conversion of coal/plastic mixtures but the highest conversions and oil yields were obtained when a two step procedure was used with liquefaction of plastic done in one step and coprocessing of plastic-derived liquids and coal in a second step."
Unlike some other references we've cited, which suggest that combining coal and some plastic wastes in liquefaction processes can increase the yield, this report indicates there could be some loss of efficiency.
However, it does seem that process modifications can overcome those inefficiencies, and coal and plastic wastes can be co-processed effectively into gases and liquids for further refining.
Coal-to-Liquid is a profitable, win-win, technology that can clean up the environment while it provides us with much-needed liquid hydrocarbon fuels.
Coal can do all of that.
- Details
Pakistan is yet another country recognizing the potential of coal to provide us with both liquid fuels and technologies for reclaiming value from some, otherwise worthless, plastic wastes.
Coal can be combined with some types of waste plastic and processed into the precursors for liquid fuel manufacturing.
The excerpt:
"Pyrolysis of some whole plastics and plastics–coal mixtures
Mohammad Ishaq, Imtiaz Ahmad, Mohammad Shakirullah, Mohammad Arsala Khan, Habib ur Rehman and Ali Bahader
Department of Chemistry, University of Peshawar, Peshawar NWFP 25120, Pakistan
Abstract
This paper demonstrates the thermal and catalytic pyrolysis of some whole plastics and plastic–coal mixtures with and without solvent in an inert atmosphere of N2 using a micro autoclave. The temperature was varied between 300 and 400 °C. The effect of some catalysts, i.e., AlCl3 and Co–Mo, on the liquid yield was also studied. The results demonstrate that temperature has a promising effect on the yield; however high temperature, as well as high catalyst loading, caused a decline in liquid yield. The effect of the solvent was found to be significant. None of the catalysts show an impressive effect on the yield of the desired products. Among the plastics studied, high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) gave high yields even in the absence of a solvent and catalyst. The results are quite promising in terms of resource recovery, both from coal as well as plastics. The idea will also help in combating the environmental problems associated with plastics and coal."
Note that the results "are quite promising" relative to extracting value from "coal as well as (waste) plastics".
- Details
Study on influence of catalysts on product distribution during liquefaction of Pakistani coal
We submit more research from Pakistan confirming the very practical reality of coal-to-liquid conversion technologies.
Note in this research that they employ lignite coal as the subject of study, a lower grade of coal that would be comparable in certain respects, such as Btu and ash content, to some WV coal mine waste accumulations; especially those at older mines that once produced coal for metallurgical use and thus discarded significant amounts of run-of-mine product because of excessive ash and volatile content. Much high-Btu organic material still resides in those wastes.
The excerpt:
"Imtiaz Ahmad, Mohammad Arsala Khan, Mohammad Shakirullah, Mohammad Ishaq, Rashid Ahmad, Habib ur Rehman and Saeed ur Rehman
Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, NWFP 25120, Pakistan
Department of Chemical Engineering, Yanbu Industrial College, Yanbu Al Sinayah, Saudi Arabia
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Islamabad, Pakistan
Abstract
The influence of a group of metal oxide, hydroxide and chloride catalysts on the yields of liquefied products has been identified. The results of hydrogenation experiments performed with varying coal to catalyst ratio for a slurry of lignite coal in toluene demonstrated that metal loadings even as low as 1% proved effective for enhancement of yields. Among the catalysts employed, halide catalysts proved to be the most effective in terms of high yields of desirable liquefied products."
Note that "halide" catalysts are identified as being most effective. Could something as common as table salt be a key to the more profitable and more productive conversion of coal into liquid fuels?
We find it interesting that, as we have discovered in other coal-to-liquid research efforts in other places, representatives from the Oil Cartel nations, as in the Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, College researchers noted above, have insinuated themselves into coal liquefaction research efforts around the world. Just keeping their friends close, but their enemies closer, we suppose.
- Details
Some excerpts, with a somewhat revelatory comment following:
"Coal gasification and coal-to-liquid are some proven technologies available which can be successfully employed in Pakistan to reduce dependence on imported oil and natural gas.
In addition to coal, there are many waste materials like cow dung, municipal solid waste, industrial waste, rice husk, wheat and rice straw and other composite materials which can be used to produce bio gas, which can be used a substitute of natural gas for winter heating and CNG filling stations for vehicle fuels. If this waste-to-energy technology is adopted in Pakistan on a fast track basis, then the problem of gas shortage can be overcome within a few years.
Coal gasification offers one of the most versatile and cleanest ways to convert the energy content of coal into electricity, hydrogen, and other energy forms."
In addition to coal, there are many waste materials like cow dung, municipal solid waste, industrial waste, rice husk, wheat and rice straw and other composite materials which can be used to produce bio gas, which can be used a substitute of natural gas for winter heating and CNG filling stations for vehicle fuels. If this waste-to-energy technology is adopted in Pakistan on a fast track basis, then the problem of gas shortage can be overcome within a few years.
Coal gasification offers one of the most versatile and cleanest ways to convert the energy content of coal into electricity, hydrogen, and other energy forms."
As you will see, this article was based on an interview with an oil industry expert who works for a Houston, Texas, company. A little digging reveals that company is owned by a much larger conglomerate - a Saudi Arabian conglomerate. You can do that little bit of mining on your own. You'll find it.
- Details
You'll recall that our dispatch about our CO2 "problem" being solved by a Nobel prize-winning technique presented, way back in 1912, by scientist Paul Sabatier.
So effective is Sabatier's technology, it is what NASA uses aboard the International Space Station to recycle the Carbon Dioxide emitted by human astronauts.
Sabatier demonstrated that the Carbon produced by CO2 reduction could be recycled "with the greatest ease", in his terms, into the useful fuel and organic chemical building block: methane.
NASA focuses on the other useful product which can be obtained by Sabatier CO2 recycling: water.
An excerpt:
"METHODS OF WATER PRODUCTION: Aboard the Shuttle Orbiter water is generated using a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell which produces both electricity and very pure water. Water can also be produced by reduction of CO2 by hydrogen over a suitable catalyst. The Sabatier and Bosch processes are two Carbon Dioxide Reduction Systems which have been studied extensively. The Sabatier method has been selected for ISSA."
Now, wasn't it another NASA fellow, name of Hansen, we believe, who started all this CO2 ruckus in the first place? Since they're the ones who first told us "we might have a problem" aboard Space Station Earth, because of CO2, shouldn't they be the ones to tell us that problem has now been solved?
Somebody should tell us before this Cap&Trade nonsense goes any further and begins to damage our vital coal industries:
Carbon Dioxide is a valuable by-product of our coal use. We can make fuel and water out of it.
Join Friends of Coal
Be part of West Virginia's coal industry future. Together, we can continue building a stronger, more prosperous Mountain State by supporting our miners and communities.
West Virginia Coal Association
The West Virginia Coal Association has been the voice of the coal industry for over 100 years, advocating for safe, responsible mining practices and supporting the communities that depend on coal.
Join the FOC
Become a Friend of Coal and download our app to stay connected and support the industry.
