A process for cleaning and dewatering hydrophobic particulate materials is presented. The process is performed in in two steps: 1) agglomeration of the hydrophobic particles in a first hydrophobic liquid/aqueous mixture; followed by 2) dispersion of the agglomerates in a second hydrophobic liquid to release the water trapped within the agglomerates along with the entrained hydrophilic particles.

The present invention is directed to additives for coal-fired furnaces, particularly furnaces using a layer of slag to capture coal particles for combustion. The additive(s) include iron, mineralizer(s), handling aid(s), flow aid(s), and/or abrasive material(s). The iron and mineralizers can lower the melting temperature of ash in low-iron, high alkali coals, leading to improved furnace performance.

The present invention is directed to additives for coal-fired furnaces, particularly furnaces using a layer of slag to capture coal particles for combustion. The additive(s) include iron, mineralizer(s), handling aid(s), flow aid(s), and/or abrasive material(s). The iron and mineralizers can lower the melting temperature of ash in low-iron, high alkali coals, leading to improved furnace performance.

The present invention relates to a multifunctional spontaneous combustion inhibitor for bituminous coal in the form of a foam concentrate, which may inhibit the spontaneous combustion of bituminous coal, prevent the scattering of bituminous coal, prevent the occurrence of problems due to spontaneous combustion, such as a power plant operation failure, bituminous coal waste, and odor generation, enables a bituminous coal power plant to be operated economically, safely and environmentally friendlily through the use of inexpensive bituminous coal, and may be used even at −20° C. by improving the pour point thereof. The present invention is characterized in that a spontaneous combustion inhibitor is prepared in the form of a water-soluble foam concentrate by using an antioxidant, a volatile fraction activation inhibitor, and an emulsifier compound, is mixed with water and air, and is distributed and applied to bituminous coal in a foamed state.

The present invention relates to a multifunctional spontaneous combustion inhibitor for bituminous coal in the form of a foam concentrate, which may inhibit the spontaneous combustion of bituminous coal, prevent the scattering of bituminous coal, prevent the occurrence of problems due to spontaneous combustion, such as a power plant operation failure, bituminous coal waste, and odor generation, enables a bituminous coal power plant to be operated economically, safely and environmentally friendlily through the use of inexpensive bituminous coal, and may be used even at −20° C. by improving the pour point thereof. The present invention is characterized in that a spontaneous combustion inhibitor is prepared in the form of a water-soluble foam concentrate by using an antioxidant, a volatile fraction activation inhibitor, and an emulsifier compound, is mixed with water and air, and is distributed and applied to bituminous coal in a foamed state.

The invention also provides a briquette comprising: (i) a particulate material; and (ii) a binder, the binder comprising (a) at least partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol and (b) an alkali metal alkyl siliconate or polyalkylsilicic acid; wherein the particulate material is selected from a carbonaceous material, metal, metal ore, mineral waste or a mixture thereof.

The invention also provides a briquette comprising: (i) a particulate material; and (ii) a binder, the binder comprising (a) at least partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol and (b) an alkali metal alkyl siliconate or polyalkylsilicic acid; wherein the particulate material is selected from a carbonaceous material, metal, metal ore, mineral waste or a mixture thereof.

Proposed is a pretreatment desulfurization system including: a first chute for supplying a pretreatment apparatus with coal transported by a belt conveyor; a pretreatment apparatus for immersing the supplied coal in a catalyst mixture obtained by mixing a desulfurization catalyst and water, thereby desulfurizing the coal; a mesh conveyor for separating the coal being immersed in the catalyst mixture and having passed through the pretreatment apparatus, into a liquid phase and a catalyst-treated coal; a mesh conveyor for transporting the catalyst-treated coal; and a storage tank for storing the transported catalyst-treated coal.

Proposed is a pretreatment desulfurization system including: a first chute for supplying a pretreatment apparatus with coal transported by a belt conveyor; a pretreatment apparatus for immersing the supplied coal in a catalyst mixture obtained by mixing a desulfurization catalyst and water, thereby desulfurizing the coal; a mesh conveyor for separating the coal being immersed in the catalyst mixture and having passed through the pretreatment apparatus, into a liquid phase and a catalyst-treated coal; a mesh conveyor for transporting the catalyst-treated coal; and a storage tank for storing the transported catalyst-treated coal.

A method of processing coal includes placing coal having a heat content between about 3,000 BTU/lb and about 9,000 BTU/lb and a moisture content between about 20 wt % and about 60 wt % in a vessel. The coal is heated by conduction. A pressure in the vessel is reduced to below atmospheric pressure, thereby reducing the coal, such that an average primary particle size of the coal is less than 1 millimeter. The reduced coal is shaped to yield a fuel composition.