PROCESS FOR REMOVING SULFUR FROM COAL

摘要

PROCESS FOR REMOVING SULFUR FROM COAL A process for reducing the sulfur and ash content of coal comprising the steps of: (1) contacting coal particles containing ash and iron pyrite mineral matter with a promoting amount of at least one conditioning agent, said conditioning agent having a ferrous component maintained at a pH of from about 5.5 to 11.0 and being capable of modifying or altering the existing surface characteristics of the pyrite under conditions to effectuate alteration or modification of at least a portion of the contained pyritic sulfur; (2) agglomerating the coal particles while said pyrite surfaces are altered or modified in an aqueous medium with hydrocarbon oil to form coal-hydrocarbon oil agglomerates; (3) separating said coal-hydrocarbon oil agglomerates with pyrite mineral matter and ash to recover coal-hydrocarbon oil agglomerates wherein the coal exhibits reduced sulfur and ash content.