Disclosed are methods of producing calcined coke from bio-oil from a biomass feedstock. Also disclosed are calcined cokes produced by such methods.

A fuel pellet has a body made from a mixture of (a) 1-99 weight percent hemp byproduct, kenaf byproduct or a combination thereof and (b) 1-99 weight percent coal fines. A related method of making a fuel pellet includes the steps of: (1) mixing together (a) a hemp byproduct, a kenaf byproduct or a hemp byproduct and a kenaf byproduct and (b) coal fines to form a pelleting mixture; and (2) compressing or extruding the pelleting mixture and forming the fuel pellet in the absence of any added binder.

This disclosure describes formulations and methods for dust control, for example, coal topping, a term which refers to the application of liquid products to the top of coal loads, such as those in open topped coal hopper railcars as commonly used today to transport coal. Disclosed herein are asphalt-based emulsion formulations that accomplish dust control during industrial operations in which dust handling is required.

This disclosure describes formulations and methods for dust control, for example, coal topping, a term which refers to the application of liquid products to the top of coal loads, such as those in open topped coal hopper railcars as commonly used today to transport coal. Disclosed herein are asphalt-based emulsion formulations that accomplish dust control during industrial operations in which dust handling is required.

To provide a method for producing a solid fuel that can efficiently evaporate moisture contained in a slurry by enhancing heat exchange efficiency.

The method for producing a solid fuel of the present invention includes the steps of: preparing a slurry by mixing powdery low-grade coal and oil; evaporating moisture contained in the slurry by heating; and separating the slurry obtained after the evaporation step into solid and liquid, wherein the evaporation step includes the steps of: preheating the slurry in a first circulation route; and heating the preheated slurry in a second circulation route that is different from the first circulation route. Preferably, in the preheating step and the heating step, a multitubular heat exchanger is used, the heating medium is supplied to the shell side, and the slurry is supplied to the tube side. Preferably, the process steam generated in the evaporation step is used as the heating medium for anyone of the preheating step and the heating step, and externally introduced steam is used as the heat medium for the other.

To provide a method for producing a solid fuel that can efficiently evaporate moisture contained in a slurry by enhancing heat exchange efficiency.

The method for producing a solid fuel of the present invention includes the steps of: preparing a slurry by mixing powdery low-grade coal and oil; evaporating moisture contained in the slurry by heating; and separating the slurry obtained after the evaporation step into solid and liquid, wherein the evaporation step includes the steps of: preheating the slurry in a first circulation route; and heating the preheated slurry in a second circulation route that is different from the first circulation route. Preferably, in the preheating step and the heating step, a multitubular heat exchanger is used, the heating medium is supplied to the shell side, and the slurry is supplied to the tube side. Preferably, the process steam generated in the evaporation step is used as the heating medium for anyone of the preheating step and the heating step, and externally introduced steam is used as the heat medium for the other.

The disclosed embodiments describe a novel approach to the utilization of the fine mineral matter derived from coal and/or coal refuse (a by-product of coal refining) to convert a non-biodegradable plastic into a biodegradable plastic. The fine mineral matter could also be based on volcanic basalt, glacial rock dust deposits, iron potassium silicate and other sea shore mined deposits. The conversion of the non-biodegradable plastic into biodegradable plastic in soil further increases nutrients availability in soil with the transition metals released as a result of biodegradation of the biodegradable plastic.

The present invention provides a fly ash-based environmentally-friendly hydrogel with a high water retention for preventing and controlling spontaneous combustion of coal in a mine and a preparation method thereof. The hydrogel includes the following raw materials in the following weight percentages: 10% to 30% of a gel-forming material A, 20% to 45% of a crosslinking material B, and water as a balance, where the gel-forming material A is prepared by physical blending of a biodegradable superabsorbent resin, anionic polyacrylamide, a sesbania gum, and fly ash in a weight ratio of (1-3):(0.5-1):(0.5-1):(95-98); and the crosslinking material B is prepared by subjecting zeolite, expandable graphite, and an aluminum citrate complex in a weight ratio of (60-78):(20-36):(2-4) to mixing, dispersing, adsorbing, and freeze-drying. The gel-forming material A is added to water and stirred at room temperature until homogeneous, and then the crosslinking material B is added and stirred until homogeneous to obtain the hydrogel. In the present disclosure, the environmentally-friendly hydrogel with the high water retention is prepared with wastes such as fly ash as a base material, and can be prepared simply with a low cost. In addition, the hydrogel has the advantages of degradability, strong water retention, and a controllable gelation time. The hydrogel can cover and wet a coal body for a long time, and prevent and control the spontaneous combustion of coal in a mine for a prolonged time.

The present invention provides a fly ash-based environmentally-friendly hydrogel with a high water retention for preventing and controlling spontaneous combustion of coal in a mine and a preparation method thereof. The hydrogel includes the following raw materials in the following weight percentages: 10% to 30% of a gel-forming material A, 20% to 45% of a crosslinking material B, and water as a balance, where the gel-forming material A is prepared by physical blending of a biodegradable superabsorbent resin, anionic polyacrylamide, a sesbania gum, and fly ash in a weight ratio of (1-3):(0.5-1):(0.5-1):(95-98); and the crosslinking material B is prepared by subjecting zeolite, expandable graphite, and an aluminum citrate complex in a weight ratio of (60-78):(20-36):(2-4) to mixing, dispersing, adsorbing, and freeze-drying. The gel-forming material A is added to water and stirred at room temperature until homogeneous, and then the crosslinking material B is added and stirred until homogeneous to obtain the hydrogel. In the present disclosure, the environmentally-friendly hydrogel with the high water retention is prepared with wastes such as fly ash as a base material, and can be prepared simply with a low cost. In addition, the hydrogel has the advantages of degradability, strong water retention, and a controllable gelation time. The hydrogel can cover and wet a coal body for a long time, and prevent and control the spontaneous combustion of coal in a mine for a prolonged time.

A method of manufacturing a molded solid fuel including: a pulverization for pulverizing low-grade coal; a mixing for obtaining a slurry by mixing the pulverized low-grade coal and a solvent oil; a dehydration for obtaining a dehydrated slurry by heating and dehydrating the slurry; a solid-liquid separation for obtaining a cake by separating the solvent oil from the dehydrated slurry; a drying for obtaining powdery modified coal by heating the cake and further separating the solvent oil from the cake; and a molding for pressurizing and molding the powdery modified coal by using a molding machine, without the addition/mixture of a binder. In the molding, a coolant is sprayed onto the surface of the molding machine, and the surface temperature of the molding machine is kept equal to or below 100° C.