Open AccessDEVELOPMENT OF CONTINUOUS SOLVENT EXTRACTION PROCESSES FOR COAL DERIVED CARBON PRODUCTS
Author(s) -
Elliot B. Kennel,
Philip L Biedler,
Chong Chen,
Dady B. Dadyburjor,
Liviu Magean,
Peter G. Stansberry,
Alfred H. Stiller,
John W. Zondlo
Publication year - 2005
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/841142
Subject(s) - coal , carbon fibers , coke , petroleum coke , graphite , solvent , extraction (chemistry) , materials science , pyrolysis , waste management , smelting , cracking , environmental science , pulp and paper industry , chemical engineering , metallurgy , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , engineering , composite number
The purpose of this DOE-funded effort is to develop continuous processes for solvent extraction of coal for the production of carbon products. These carbon products include materials used in metals smelting, especially in the aluminum and steel industries, as well as porous carbon structural material referred to as ''carbon foam'' and carbon fibers. A process has been developed which results in high quality binder pitch suitable for use in graphite electrodes or carbon anodes. A detailed description of the protocol is given by Clendenin. Briefly, aromatic heavy oils are hydro-treated under mild conditions in order to increase their ability to dissolve coal. An example of an aromatic heavy oil is Koppers Carbon Black Base (CBB) oil. CBB oil has been found to be an effective solvent and acceptably low cost (i.e., significantly below the market price for binder pitch, or about $280 per ton at the time of this writing). It is also possible to use solvents derived from hydrotreated coal and avoid reliance on coke oven recovery products completely if so desired