Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for processing hydrocarbon coal slurry feeds. The method and apparatus enhance the conversion of the coal feeds into useful conversion products, such as high melting and high carbon containing pitch products. In particular, the present techniques utilize a specially designed “self-cleaning” and “wall-catalyzed” preheater-reactor systems.

Abstract: A method for forming mesophase pitch can include applying a stimulus to a first amount of coal tar to form a first amount of mesophase pitch. The stimulus can include one or more of an electromagnetic field (“EMF”) or a magnetic field. The method can further include evaluating a characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, changing a parameter of the stimulus in response to evaluating the characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, and applying the stimulus exhibiting the changed parameters to a second amount of coal tar to form mesophase pitch.

Abstract: A method of producing advanced carbon materials can include providing coal to a processing facility, beneficiating the coal to remove impurities from the coal, processing the beneficiated coal to produce a pitch, and treating the pitch to produce an advanced carbon material such as carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, graphene, carbon fibers, polymers, biomaterials, or other carbon materials.

Abstract: A method of producing at least one or more resins is disclosed. The method includes providing an amount of raw coal. The raw coal includes one or more impurities therein. The method also includes beneficiating the amount of raw coal to selectively removing at least a portion of some of the one or more impurities in the raw coal to form beneficiated coal. Additionally, the method includes processing the beneficiated coal to produce an amount of pitch. The method further includes modifying at least some of the pitch to produce the one or more resins. The one or more resins include a selected amount of a remainder of the one or more impurities that were not removed while beneficiating the amount of the raw coal, processing the beneficiated coal, and modifying at least some of the pitch.

Abstract: A method for forming mesophase pitch can include applying a stimulus to a first amount of coal tar to form a first amount of mesophase pitch. The stimulus can include one or more of an electromagnetic field (“EMF”) or a magnetic field. The method can further include evaluating a characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, changing a parameter of the stimulus in response to evaluating the characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, and applying the stimulus exhibiting the changed parameters to a second amount of coal tar to form mesophase pitch.

Abstract: A method of producing graphite may include beneficiating an amount of coal to form a coal char, grinding the coal char to produce a crushed char and placing the crushed char in a porous container. Then, the method includes immersing the porous container in a molten salt bath. The molten salt bath includes a graphite anode. The method further includes applying an electrical potential across the porous container and the graphite anode such that a graphite deposit forms on the graphite anode. The graphite anode is removed from the molten salt bath and the graphite deposit is separated from the graphite anode to produce graphite fragments.

Abstract: A method of producing graphite may include beneficiating an amount of coal to form a coal char, grinding the coal char to produce a crushed char and placing the crushed char in a porous container. Then, the method includes immersing the porous container in a molten salt bath. The molten salt bath includes a graphite anode. The method further includes applying an electrical potential across the porous container and the graphite anode such that a graphite deposit forms on the graphite anode. The graphite anode is removed from the molten salt bath and the graphite deposit is separated from the graphite anode to produce graphite fragments.

Abstract: A method of producing advanced carbon materials can include providing coal to a processing facility, beneficiating the coal to remove impurities from the coal, processing the beneficiated coal to produce a pitch, and treating the pitch to produce an advanced carbon material such as carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, graphene, resins, polymers, biomaterials, or other carbon materials.

Abstract: A method of forming high molecular weight (“HMW”) coal tar can include combining supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) and an amount of coal tar, and fractionating the amount of coal tar to form the HMW coal tar. The method can further include forming the amount of coal tar from coal. Forming the amount of coal tar from coal can include extracting the coal tar from an amount of coal using sCO2.

Abstract: A method for forming mesophase pitch can include applying a stimulus to a first amount of coal tar to form a first amount of mesophase pitch. The stimulus can include one or more of an electromagnetic field (“EMF”) or a magnetic field. The method can further include evaluating a characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, changing a parameter of the stimulus in response to evaluating the characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, and applying the stimulus exhibiting the changed parameters to a second amount of coal tar to form mesophase pitch.

Abstract: A method of forming high molecular weight (“HMW”) coal tar can include combining supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) and an amount of coal tar, and fractionating the amount of coal tar to form the HMW coal tar. The method can further include forming the amount of coal tar from coal. Forming the amount of coal tar from coal can include extracting the coal tar from an amount of coal using sCO2.

Abstract: A system for analyzing biological specimens by spectral imaging includes a biosensor comprising at least one graphene layer on a substrate and a memory in communication with a processor. The biosensor is configured to acquire a biological specimen sample. The memory and the processor are configured to conduct Raman spectroscopy to obtain spectral data for the sample, transmit the spectral data to a hub for direct or indirect transmission to one or more servers, perform multivariate analysis on the spectral data, and deliver a report based on the multivariate analysis of the spectral data.

Abstract: A method of removing carbon dioxide from a gas can include providing a gaseous feed stream including a carbon dioxide gas and adsorbing the carbon dioxide gas with a porous carbon sorbent. The method can further include de-adsorbing the carbon dioxide and combining the carbon dioxide with a substantially pure hydrogen gas to produce at least one of methane and methanol. The adsorbing and de-adsorbing of the carbon dioxide gas can be conducted by an electric swing adsorption.

Abstract: A method of producing graphite may include beneficiating an amount of coal to form a coal char, grinding the coal char to produce a crushed char and placing the crushed char in a porous container. Then, the method includes immersing the porous container in a molten salt bath. The molten salt bath includes a graphite anode. The method further includes applying an electrical potential across the porous container and the graphite anode such that a graphite deposit forms on the graphite anode. The graphite anode is removed from the molten salt bath and the graphite deposit is separated from the graphite anode to produce graphite fragments.

Abstract: An example method includes providing coal and extracting the graphene from the coal. The graphene may be extracted using any suitable technique, such as the Hummers method, a modified Hummers method, or exfoliation of graphite. The graphene may include impurities or other electrical properties that depend at least partially on the composition of the coal. The method may further include forming a life science device from the graphene. The life science device may include, for example, a biosensor or a drug delivery system.

Abstract: A method for forming mesophase pitch can include applying a stimulus to a first amount of coal tar to form a first amount of mesophase pitch. The stimulus can include one or more of an electromagnetic field (“EMF”) or a magnetic field. The method can further include evaluating a characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, changing a parameter of the stimulus in response to evaluating the characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, and applying the stimulus exhibiting the changed parameters to a second amount of coal tar to form mesophase pitch.

Abstract: Embodiments discloses herein relate to low-cost methods of producing a carbon foam through blending at least one carbon source with at least one solvent to form a mixture and heating the mixture at atmospheric pressure and in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to form a carbon foam. Given that the carbon foam is produced at atmospheric pressure, the methods disclosed herein may include a continuous process.

Abstract: Embodiments discloses herein relate to methods of processing coal. A method to process coal includes subjecting raw coal to a liquefaction process to form a pitch resin and refining the pitch resin to produce a mesophase pitch. The method further includes subjecting the mesophase pitch to a low crystallinity spinning process to form a raw fiber. The raw fiber is then further subjected to a stabilization process configured to oxygen cross-link the fiber to form a stabilized fiber and then subjecting the stabilized fiber to a carbonization process to form a carbon fiber.

Abstract: A method of producing advanced carbon materials can include extracting a coal sample from a location, performing a spectral analysis on the coal sample, determining one or more desired advanced carbon materials based at least in part on spectral analysis, extracting an amount of coal from the location, beneficiating the amount of coal, and processing the beneficiated amount of coal to produce the one or more desired advanced carbon materials from at least some of the amount of coal.

Abstract: Embodiments discloses herein relate to methods of processing coal. A method to process coal includes subjecting raw coal to a liquefaction process effective to form a liquid pitch resin and subjecting the liquid pitch resin to a filtration process. The method further includes subjecting the liquid pitch resin to a low crystallinity spinning process to form a raw fiber. The raw fiber is then further subjected to a stabilization process configured to oxygen cross-link the fiber to form a stabilized fiber and then subjecting the stabilized fiber to a carbonization process to form a low thermal conductivity carbon fiber.