The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-01-01
METHOD FOUND
TO IMPROVE
GOAL
eAsreau Of Mines Converts Low
Quality Bituminous into
Valuable Fuel.
BY ROBERT s. THORNBURGH
International News Service.


Processes by which coal of low
quality may be converted into high
grade fuel, found practical after an
exhaustive study by the United
States Bureau, Of Mines, viii be the
means of extending the american
supply of coal by centuries, Govern
ment experts predicted today.
Besides conserving the coal prop
critics, the waste piles of mine
throughout the country, hitherto con-
aidered worthless, may be processed
Into fuel of excellent heating quail
ties, officials announced.
Whereas Russian scientists dis
covered with considerable satisfac-
ton a process which would convert
coal of 38 per cent ash into useable
fuel. the American method will
render coal Of so to so per cent ash
into fuel of high heat potentialities.
Processes Similar.
The Russian process is similar
20 that studied by the bureau Of
mines, consisting of a pulverizing
Of the coal, washing away the ash
or slate with water and adding oil
r.. HI. Kudlich, coal expert of the
bureau of mines, explaining the
method said:
when finely pulverized wet coal
is mixed with approximately one
third its weight of oil, and agitated
with a large excess Of water, the
coal and oil agglomerate to form q
paste or amalganl.
"A large portion OF the extrane.
Gus ash, that produced by impur-
ities) originally in the coal remains
suspended in the water and may
be drained off. The amalgam is
then kneaded after the manner of
working butter removing most OF
the remaining water.
1.-THE results of the study in gen
eral show high ash reduction ana
good recovery of combustible Goals.
Study Low Grades.
Original studies were directed at
reduction of ash content of high and
medium grade coal, but the bureau
h now directing its attention to low"
est quality coals-such as SUE
bituminous and lignites which have
been considered worthless.
Another method under inyestiga-
ton is that to form coke out OF pull
verified coal to which a small amount
of oil has been added. 1t is believed
that the lowest qualities of coal will
produce a coke suitable for domestic
Afuel under the new process.
The amalgam is said 70 be no
dirtier than good grade bitulninous
fuel; the Goke-amalgam will be con-
giderably cleaner than bituminous.
-s No probe of costs of the. new pro-
Cesses have been made by the bu-
reau of mines. Officials were not
willing to speak of the manufacture
Of amaIgam from an economic stand
point.
In many coal fields of the United
States coal is treated to reduce it's
ash content and this will be neces.
sary in all fields, it was thought,
when the so-called pure coal supply
Is exhausted.
Differ in Costs.
Anthracite is said to cost about
80 cents ton to wash or "jigg.'
In the Alabama bituminous fields
where two-thirds of the coal is
washed before being put on the
market the costs runs from to Is
cents ton, depending upon the
amount of ash to be removed.
In the Indiana, Illinois and
Illinois fields some washing is neces
sary, but in southern West Virginia
and eastern Kentucky the coal is
purer, according to the bureau of
mines.
Pure coal contains from I to 2
per cent intrinsic ash, bureau OF
mine experts said.