A method of processing raw coal using activation agents (e.g., solvents and extractants) in a high shear reactor, which creates high shearing forces to break apart the coal and selectively extract and remove contaminants such as ash, sulfur, and other heavy metal impurities resulting in clean, high caloric-value coal.

A method of processing raw coal using activation agents (e.g., solvents and extractants) in a high shear reactor, which creates high shearing forces to break apart the coal and selectively extract and remove contaminants such as ash, sulfur, and other heavy metal impurities resulting in clean, high caloric-value coal.

A method of processing raw coal using activation agents (e.g., solvents and extractants) in a high shear reactor, which creates high shearing forces to break apart the coal and selectively extract and remove contaminants such as ash, sulfur, and other heavy metal impurities resulting in clean, high caloric-value coal.

A method of processing raw coal using activation agents (e.g., solvents and extractants) in a high shear reactor, which creates high shearing forces to break apart the coal and selectively extract and remove contaminants such as ash, sulfur, and other heavy metal impurities resulting in clean, high caloric-value coal.

A method of processing raw coal using activation agents (e.g., solvents and extractants) in a high shear reactor, which creates high shearing forces to break apart the coal and selectively extract and remove contaminants such as ash, sulfur, and other heavy metal impurities resulting in clean, high caloric-value coal.

A method of processing raw coal using activation agents (e.g., solvents and extractants) in a high shear reactor, which creates high shearing forces to break apart the coal and selectively extract and remove contaminants such as ash, sulfur, and other heavy metal impurities resulting in clean, high caloric-value coal.

An experimental method for coal desulfurization and deashing using permeation and solvating power of a supercritical fluid includes the following steps. The coal sample is ground and loaded into an extraction kettle with a cover. An inlet valve and an outlet valve of the extraction kettle are opened to circulate the supercritical CO.sub.2 fluid in the extraction kettle. The extraction kettle is sealed. By adjusting a temperature and a pressure in the extraction kettle, the supercritical CO.sub.2 fluid is kept at its critical point and permeates the coal sample to dissolve organic sulfur, inorganic sulfur and ash in the coal sample. The extraction kettle is depressurized, and the temperature in the extraction kettle is adjusted to gasify the supercritical CO.sub.2 fluid. The organic sulfur, the inorganic sulfur and part of the ash are separated from the supercritical CO.sub.2 fluid and precipitated at a bottom of the extraction kettle.

An experimental method for coal desulfurization and deashing using permeation and solvating power of a supercritical fluid includes the following steps. The coal sample is ground and loaded into an extraction kettle with a cover. An inlet valve and an outlet valve of the extraction kettle are opened to circulate the supercritical CO.sub.2 fluid in the extraction kettle. The extraction kettle is sealed. By adjusting a temperature and a pressure in the extraction kettle, the supercritical CO.sub.2 fluid is kept at its critical point and permeates the coal sample to dissolve organic sulfur, inorganic sulfur and ash in the coal sample. The extraction kettle is depressurized, and the temperature in the extraction kettle is adjusted to gasify the supercritical CO.sub.2 fluid. The organic sulfur, the inorganic sulfur and part of the ash are separated from the supercritical CO.sub.2 fluid and precipitated at a bottom of the extraction kettle.

A method of recovery of organic solvents required in the refining of coal comprising: mixing solvent, co-solvent and coal to form a slurry; thermally treating the slurry under pressure and high temperature to form a coal-extract; passing the coal-extract through a membrane under high pressure in an ultra filtration unit to achieve recovery of a major part of the solvent; contacting the remaining thick clarified liquid from the membrane with water to obtain precipitated coal in a slurry with a mixture of water and organic solvent; feeding the slurry to a filter to get clean coal of very low ash content as a residue and a mixture of water and organic solvent as a filtrate; distilling the filtrate to separate the balance of the organic solvent from the water. The application of a membrane for filtration minimizes the heat requirement to establish economy.

A method of recovery of organic solvents required in the refining of coal comprising: mixing solvent, co-solvent and coal to form a slurry; thermally treating the slurry under pressure and high temperature to form a coal-extract; passing the coal-extract through a membrane under high pressure in an ultra filtration unit to achieve recovery of a major part of the solvent; contacting the remaining thick clarified liquid from the membrane with water to obtain precipitated coal in a slurry with a mixture of water and organic solvent; feeding the slurry to a filter to get clean coal of very low ash content as a residue and a mixture of water and organic solvent as a filtrate; distilling the filtrate to separate the balance of the organic solvent from the water. The application of a membrane for filtration minimizes the heat requirement to establish economy.