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The role of sulphur in coal hydroliquefaction Martin J. Trewhella and Alan Grint
BP Research Centre, Chertsey Road, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex, TW16 7LN, UK
We all know that sulfur is an element commonly associated with coal, and can be a troublesome component of coal plant emissions. But, if we're willing to put the effort into it, sulfur can be reclaimed from flue gas emissions, and it does have commercial value. As it happens, though, as we move towards an economy fueled, at least in part, by liquids derived from coal, we might benefit from the fact that our coal often does contain sulfur. According to this study, from the United Kingdom, the presence of sulfur improves the efficiency and the productivity of some coal-to-liquid conversion processes.
The excerpt:
"Abstract
The effects on coal hydroliquefaction of organic and pyritic sulphur, and of H2S formed from the reductive decomposition of these compounds, are reviewed. Under suitable conditions, all are shown to exert beneficial effects on both product yields and quality. The reasons for the effectiveness of each of these sulphur compounds are discussed."
In other words, as we understand this, when sulfur compounds are present in coal being liquefied, more and better liquid fuels are produced.
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For Pete's sake, help our senators out. Tell everyone the truth of the matter, as you should by now know it: Coal is an incredibly valuable resource that can supply our liquid fuel and chemical manufacturing raw material needs. And, the by-products of it's use, including and especially Carbon Dioxide, can, if effort is put to the task, themselves be valuable raw materials for us; raw materials which can be used for many things, including, even, the manufacture of more liquid fuels.
All of that is solidly documented. Let our senators know and, more importantly, let their constituents know.
Give 'em some help in doing what it is you, we all, want, and need, them to do.
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We submit this study, from Australia, in support of West Virginia University's identification of "tetralin" as being an effective, perhaps the best yet identified, solvent for the direct liquefaction of coal for refining into petroleum substitutes.The excerpt:"Apparent enhancement of coal conversions using cresol — tetralin solventsAlbert A. Awadalla and Brian E. Smith
The Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd., Melbourne Research Laboratories, 245 Wellington Road, Clayton 3168, Australia
Abstract
Conversions are measured for coal hydrogenations using various solvent mixtures of p-cresol and tetralin. Compared with experiments in which tetralin alone was used as solvent, the addition of p-cresol yielded apparent increases in the observed conversions, by as much as 24%. In contrast to earlier studies, it is concluded that the effects of p-cresol occur during evaluation procedures rather than during the conversion reactions."
Honestly, we've no idea what the actual significance of these findings and conclusions might be, excepting that tetralin works in the dissolution of coal for direct liquefaction purposes, as WVU has attested, and that some significant efficiencies in performance might be realized by it's combination with other solvents. The true import, we think, is that coal conversion to liquid fuels is a valid endeavor, a true science that's undergoing serious development towards profitable commercialization in many parts of the world; places as far removed from each other as West Virginia and Australia.
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We have been reporting on the fact that biologically-derived cellulose can be co-processed with coal to manufacture liquid fuels, with the attendant benefits of carbon dioxide offsets and sustainability.
We had earlier made a number of reports on the use of algae, intensively cultivated at sources of carbon dioxide generation, such as coal-to-liquid or coal-fired power plants, to capture and recycle emitted carbon into more raw material for liquid fuel manufacture in an appropriately-designed coal-to-liquid process, where algae could be co-processed with coal.
Herein is further documentation that algae can, in fact, be processed via coal liquefaction technology into liquid fuels.
The excerpt:
"Co-liquefaction of Micro Algae with Coal Using Coal Liquefaction Catalysts
Na-oki Ikenaga, Chiyo Ueda, Takao Matsui, Munetaka Ohtsuki, and Toshimitsu Suzuki
[Unable to display image]Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kansai University, Suita, Osaka 564-8680, Japan
Co-liquefaction of micro algae (Chlorella, Spirulina, and Littorale) with coal (Australian Yallourn brown coal and Illinois No. 6 coal) was carried out under pressurized H2 in 1-methylnaphthalene at 350−400 °C for 60 min with various catalysts. Co-liquefaction of Chlorella with Yallourn coal was successfully achieved with excess sulfur to iron (S/Fe = 4), where sufficient amount of Fe1-xS, which is believed to be the active species in the coal liquefaction, was produced. The conversion and the yield of the hexane-soluble fraction were close to the values calculated from the additivity of the product yields of the respective homo-reactions. In the reaction with a one-to-one mixture of Chlorella and Yallourn coal, 99.8% of conversion and 65.5% of hexane-soluble fraction were obtained at 400 °C with Fe(CO)5 at S/Fe = 4. When Littorale and Spirulina were used as micro algae, a similar tendency was observed with the iron catalyst. On the other hand, in the co-liquefaction with Illinois No. 6 coal, which is known to contain a large amount of sulfur in the form of catalytically active pyrite, the oil yield in the co-liquefaction was close to the additivity of the respective reaction with Fe(CO)5−S, even at S/Fe = 2. Ru3(CO)12 was also effective for the co-liquefaction of micro algae with coal."
Although this report is complicated, it seems clear that co-processing coal and algae together into liquid fuels, as with coal and tree or crop-derived cellulose in other of our reports, leads to production improvements, as well as providing a direct and practical method to recapture and recycle carbon dioxide.
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Again relating to Cap&Trade: Not only, according to Georgia Tech, can we capture CO2 from smokestacks, and as we've documented from the air itself, but from our cars' tailpipes.
The excerpt:
"Carbon capture and storage has been touted as a method for slashing carbon emissions in power plants – now researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology say it can be used to combat one of the most widespread greenhouse gas offenders: the automobile. Georgia Tech has outlined a concept system where carbon is isolated from fossil fuels, disposed of at a refueling station, and eventually recycled into new fuel. Not only is the closed-loop cycle carbon emission free, it is also renewable and efficient."
Georgia Tech confirms what we've been reporting: We can capture CO2 and use it to make more liquid fuel. And, we can capture it even as it emerges from the tailpipes of our cars. Then, we can convert it into more liquid fuel.
Doesn't this make a lot more sense than punishing coal-producing and coal-using states, and every American citizen, by imposing huge new taxes disguised behind a mask that says "Cap&Trade"?
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