This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects.

This invention provides processes and systems for converting biomass into high carbon biogenic reagents that are suitable for a variety of commercial applications. Some embodiments employ pyrolysis in the presence of an inert gas to generate hot pyrolyzed solids, condensable vapors, and non-condensable gases, followed by separation of vapors and gases, and cooling of the hot pyrolyzed solids in the presence of the inert gas. Additives may be introduced during processing or combined with the reagent, or both. The biogenic reagent may include at least 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 90 wt %, 95 wt %, or more total carbon on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may have an energy content of at least 12,000 Btu/lb, 13,000 Btu/lb, 14,000 Btu/lb, or 14,500 Btu/lb on a dry basis. The biogenic reagent may be formed into fine powders, or structural objects.

The present invention is directed towards a process for upgrading lignite comprising: prior to production pre-assess the calorific value of the coal, by selecting a relational expression between a calorific value of lignite and a degree of metamorphism, a moisture content and an ash content thereof based on a ratio of the ash content to the moisture content, pre-assess the calorific value of the coal; combining a relational expression between a production cost and the ash content and moisture content to make a cost budget; determining degrees of deashing and drying; selecting and implementing a lignite ash reduction pretreatment process; and implementing dry sorting first and then drying. The upgrading process has high sorting efficiency, high drying efficiency and low production cost, and meets the requirement for the surface moisture of the raw coal in the dry sorting operation.

This document describes methods for pretreating coal to create either a dried coal or a char product that is stable in the outdoor environment and is more efficient as a feedstock for gasification or other processes than the original coal. Embodiments of the methods include pulverizing and pelletizing the coal, and pretreating the coal pellets to obtain a stable pellet of either dried coal or a stable pellet of chared coal (coal char). The pellets created by the described methods have undergone deoxygenation and carbonization improving their handling and storage properties and, in some cases, energy density. Pore structures within the pellets are stabilized physically and chemically so that the uptake of moisture into dry coal, that leads to internal heat generation, is greatly reduced. Chars are also, therefore, stable against transitions from a dry state to a wet state and less prone to self-ignition.

A method of estimating a surface tension of coal inert material includes determining in advance a first relational expression representing a relationship between a surface tension of coal inert material and a physical property value representing a coal rank; and measuring the physical property value representing the coal rank of a coal for which the surface tension of coal inert material is to be estimated, and calculating the surface tension of the coal inert material by using the measured physical property value representing the coal rank and the first relational expression.

A method of estimating a surface tension of coal inert material includes determining in advance a first relational expression representing a relationship between a surface tension of coal inert material and a physical property value representing a coal rank; and measuring the physical property value representing the coal rank of a coal for which the surface tension of coal inert material is to be estimated, and calculating the surface tension of the coal inert material by using the measured physical property value representing the coal rank and the first relational expression.

A process for upgrading of a coal product is provided. The process comprising the steps of: (i) providing a purified coal composition, wherein the composition is in the form of solid particles, and wherein at least about 90% by volume (% vol) of the solid particles are no greater than about 500 μm in diameter; and (ii) combining the purified coal composition with a solid coal feedstock, in order to create a combined solid-solid blend upgraded coal product. Further a process for preparation of a purified coal product is provided. The process comprising the steps of: obtaining a starting material that comprises coal; subjecting the starting material to at least one fine grinding stage so as to reduce the starting material to a particulate composition in which substantially all of the particles are no more than 500 microns (μm) in diameter; exposing the particulate composition to at least one froth flotation stage so as to separate hydrocarbonaceous material comprised within the particulate composition from mineral matter, wherein during the at least one froth flotation stage the hydrocarbonaceous material is associated with froth produced and separated from the at least one froth flotation stage; washing the froth separated from the at least one froth flotation stage with water to release the hydrocarbonaceous material; and subjecting the hydrocarbonaceous material to at least one dewatering stage so as to obtain a particulate purified coal product that has an ash content of less than 12% m, a water content of less than 25% m and wherein the particles comprised within the particulate purified coal product have a d90 of less than 00 μm. Products, such as pelletized or briquetted coal, comprising purified coal material obtainable via the described processes are also provided.

A process for upgrading of a coal product is provided. The process comprising the steps of: (i) providing a purified coal composition, wherein the composition is in the form of solid particles, and wherein at least about 90% by volume (% vol) of the solid particles are no greater than about 500 μm in diameter; and (ii) combining the purified coal composition with a solid coal feedstock, in order to create a combined solid-solid blend upgraded coal product. Further a process for preparation of a purified coal product is provided. The process comprising the steps of: obtaining a starting material that comprises coal; subjecting the starting material to at least one fine grinding stage so as to reduce the starting material to a particulate composition in which substantially all of the particles are no more than 500 microns (μm) in diameter; exposing the particulate composition to at least one froth flotation stage so as to separate hydrocarbonaceous material comprised within the particulate composition from mineral matter, wherein during the at least one froth flotation stage the hydrocarbonaceous material is associated with froth produced and separated from the at least one froth flotation stage; washing the froth separated from the at least one froth flotation stage with water to release the hydrocarbonaceous material; and subjecting the hydrocarbonaceous material to at least one dewatering stage so as to obtain a particulate purified coal product that has an ash content of less than 12% m, a water content of less than 25% m and wherein the particles comprised within the particulate purified coal product have a d90 of less than 00 μm. Products, such as pelletized or briquetted coal, comprising purified coal material obtainable via the described processes are also provided.

A low-sulfur coal production method having an excellent desulfurization effect includes bringing coal into contact with a chemical material that is a mixed solution of hydrogen peroxide and acetic anhydride to remove sulfur in the coal. It is preferred that the molar ratio of the acetic anhydride to the hydrogen peroxide is 0.5 to 12.0 inclusive. It is preferred that the acetic anhydride is mixed with the hydrogen peroxide before the chemical material is brought into contact with the coal and the chemical material is brought into contact with the coal after 10 minutes or more has elapsed since the mixing.

According to the invention, there is provided a process for the beneficiation of coal discards by increasing calorific value and carbon content while removing inert mineral matter and sulphur compounds. The process involves the pretreatment of wash water with a non-ionic kinetically energized surface-active agent and the admixture with a fixed mass of raw coal discard to enhance hydrophobicity and carboniferous particle agglomeration. Processing of the resulting suspension though a dedicated series of spiral separators and high frequency, resonance sieves reliably reduces excessive levels of mineral ash and sulphur compounds.