A process for separating a solid having two or more components, at least one of which is lyophobic and at least one of which is lyophilic. The process comprises, in a single step, comminuting a mixture of the solid in a first liquid to which one of the components is lyophilic and to which the other component is lyophobic and in a second liquid which is immiscible with the first liquid and which will wet the lyophobic component to form agglomerates or floes of the lyophobic component and the second liquid in a mill having positive transport capability such that the mill causes the mixture to be transported therethrough. The second liquid comprises a bio-oil, bio-diesel or combination thereof. The agglomerates are then separated from the mixture. This process may be used for beneficiating a coal containing ash.

A process for separating a solid having two or more components, at least one of which is lyophobic and at least one of which is lyophilic. The process comprises, in a single step, comminuting a mixture of the solid in a first liquid to which one of the components is lyophilic and to which the other component is lyophobic and in a second liquid which is immiscible with the first liquid and which will wet the lyophobic component to form agglomerates or floes of the lyophobic component and the second liquid in a mill having positive transport capability such that the mill causes the mixture to be transported therethrough. The second liquid comprises a bio-oil, bio-diesel or combination thereof. The agglomerates are then separated from the mixture. This process may be used for beneficiating a coal containing ash.

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.

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.

A method for removing ash from a solid carbon material: Reaction conditions are mild, and ash may be removed more effectively. The ash removing method comprises: S1) mixing an alkaline sub-molten salt medium and a solid carbonaceous material to be treated, heating so that alkali and ash in the solid carbonaceous material to be treated react in the alkaline sub-molten salt medium, and performing solid-liquid separation on a mixed slurry resulting from the reaction to obtain a first solid product and an alkali treatment solution, wherein in the alkaline sub-molten salt medium, the mass fraction of the alkali is greater than or equal to 50%; S2) using an acid solution to perform acid cleaning treatment on the first solid product, and performing solid-liquid separation again to obtain a second solid product and an acid cleaning solution.

A method for removing ash from a solid carbon material: Reaction conditions are mild, and ash may be removed more effectively. The ash removing method comprises: S1) mixing an alkaline sub-molten salt medium and a solid carbonaceous material to be treated, heating so that alkali and ash in the solid carbonaceous material to be treated react in the alkaline sub-molten salt medium, and performing solid-liquid separation on a mixed slurry resulting from the reaction to obtain a first solid product and an alkali treatment solution, wherein in the alkaline sub-molten salt medium, the mass fraction of the alkali is greater than or equal to 50%; S2) using an acid solution to perform acid cleaning treatment on the first solid product, and performing solid-liquid separation again to obtain a second solid product and an acid cleaning solution.

Upgraded coal, method of forming the same, and graphene films and quantum dots made therefrom. A method of upgrading coal includes cleaning coal to form a cleaned coal residue. The method also includes (A) reacting the cleaned coal residue with an oxidizable inorganic metallic agent, or (B) reacting the cleaned coal residue with a reducing agent, or a combination thereof, to form the upgraded coal.

Mineral additive blend compositions and a method for operating a furnace are provided in order to avoid combustion problems such as agglomeration, deposition, corrosion and reducing emissions. A method for operating a furnace, such as a fluidized-bed reactor, pulverized-fuel combustor, and grate combustor, includes introducing fuel and a mineral additive blend including a clay and a functional mineral into the furnace.

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 process for cleaning and dewatering hydrophobic particulate materials is presented. The process is performed 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.