| 摘要 |
<p>A process is disclosed for treating a fluid-permeable hydrocarbonaceous solid, such as coal, containing an admixture of hydrocarbonaceous components and mineral and sulfur components, to separate the solid into a hydrocarbonaceous enriched fraction and a mineral and sulfur enriched fraction. The process involves comminuting the solid in the presence of a low molecular weight alcohol under conditions sufficient to substantially scission the hydrocarbonaceous components from the mineral and sulfur components and to selectively comminute the hydrocarbonaceous components. The resultant product is thereafter separated into the enriched hydrocarbonaceous fraction and the enriched mineral and sulfur fraction. In a preferred embodiment of the process, the hydrocarbonaceous solid is mixed with a low molecular weight alcohol, such as methanol, to form a slurry. The slurry is then heated and pressurized to a temperature and pressure above the critical temperature and pressure of the alcohol. In particularly preferred form, the slurry is heated for a sufficient length of time to form: (1) a dissolved portion of the hydrocarbonaceous components in alcohol; (2) an undissolved suspended portion of hydrocarbonaceous material saturated with the alcohol; and (3) a discrete undissolved suspended portion of the mineral components. The superheated slurry is thereafter expanded, preferably by a substantially instantaneous adiabatic expansion, most preferably in the presence of a sulfur scavenger compound. The result is a selective precipitation, comminution and production of substantially mineral and sulfur free, ultra-fine hydrocarbonaceous particles in admixture with discrete relatively larger mineral particles. The hydrocarbonaceous particles of the resultant product are separable into an enriched hydrocarbonaceous fraction in which between about 70 and about 95 percent by weight of the mineral components and about 80 to 100 percent of the organic sulfur components have been removed. The hydrocarbonaceous particles of the enriched hydrocarbonaceous fraction have a mean volumetric diameter of less than about 5 microns, preferably less than about 3 microns and most preferably between about 1 and 0.1 microns. The product stream is further separable into a fluid stream comprising alcohol and other light hydrocarbons with small particles of combustible coal derivatives and substantially without mineral or sulfur compounds. This fluid stream can be condensed or converted into a clean fuel suitable for use in transportation vehicles.</p> |
