Patent ID: 8394240
Filing Date: 2013-03-12
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
1. A process for treating bituminous coal, the process comprising: treating dried, pulverized coal having iron sulfide and iron oxide impurities in a pyrolyzing chamber and passing an oxygen deficient sweep gas into contact with the coal, the sweep gas being at a higher temperature than the temperature of the coal so that heat is supplied to the coal; providing additional heat to the coal indirectly by heating the chamber, wherein the heating of the coal by the sweep gas and by the indirect heating from the chamber causes condensable volatile components to be released into the sweep gas, and wherein some of the iron sulfide and iron oxide impurities are converted into paramagnetic mineral components; removing the coal, including the paramagnetic mineral components, from the pyrolyzing chamber as coal char; and removing the paramagnetic mineral components from the coal char by magnetic separation, thereby creating a coal char having reduced ash, iron and sulfur.