摘要 |
A method of treating fine particles of solid carbonaceous fuel of the coal or coke type that comprises mixing the fuel particles with a liquid aqueous solution comprising essentially (a) sodium, potassium, or lithium hydroxide together with (b) calcium, magnesium, or barium hydroxide or carbonate, or a plurality thereof, with a ratio of (a) to the fuel of about 0.04 to 0.70 (typically 0.10 to 0.35) by weight, a ratio of (b) to the fuel of about 0.02 to 0.30 (typically 0.08 to 0.20) by weight, and a ratio of water to the fuel of about 1 to 10 (typically 2 to 5) by weight; heating the resulting mixture, at an elevated pressure, to a temperature of about 150 DEG to 375 DEG C (typically 175 DEG to 300 DEG C) in such a manner as to improve the usefulness of the fuel particles; and cooling to below about 100 DEG C. The cooled mixture either is dried or filtered to separate the fuel particles from the solution, the particles then being washed and dried. The filtered solution is regenerated so that it can be again mixed with unreacted fuel particles. The solution typically comprises essentially sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide or carbonate, and may comprise also magnesium hydroxide or carbonate. |