Abstract: Pieces of coke of high density and strength are made continuously from fine particles of bituminous or subbituminous or lignite coals or of mixtures thereof. The particles are generally oxygenated, mixed with water, compressed to squeeze out some of the water to obtain single bodies which are heat processed lying on a traveling grate on which they undergo drying, pyrolyzing, carbonizing and cooling.Modifications include mixing in with the coal material(s) listed above, coke fines or char or anthracite coal; or limestone; or carbon-reducible oxides such as oxidic ores of Fe, Mn, Cr and quartzite in recited important proportions. Such formed coke bodies are useable in a submerged arc furnace or in a blast furnace or in an open hearth to produce desired intermediate or end metallic products. The pieces of coke with incorporated fine limestone burn without developing SO.sub.2.

Abstract: A continuously operable combustion-type retort apparatus includes an insulated retort. A preheater is preferably associated with the retort for preheating incoming material, and means are preferably provided for injecting acetic acid and steam into the incoming material. Heat is supplied from a combustion zone arranged near the bottom of the retort, wherein means are provided for combusting spent shale to provide the heat necessary for retorting. Means for injecting acetic acid and water are arranged above the combustion zone for preventing the combustion from spreading into the material being retorted. The invention also comprises a method of retorting to produce a very high quality oil from shale and having a 7:1 ratio of carbon to hydrogen, along with the production of valuable nitrogen related chemicals, activated lignin and cement.

Abstract: A plant for treating industrial and/or urban waste includes a stage for drying of the waste, followed by a stage for effecting thermolysis of the dried waste and a stage for effecting recovery of the solids and gases resulting from the thermolysis. Thermolysis of the waste is effected in a reactor by indirect heat exchange with combustion gases and drying gases for drying of the waste are subsequently treated to remove vapor materials and then recycled to a gas generator for generating the drying gases. Additionally the plant includes a stage for effecting dechlorination of the solids resulting from the thermolysis by washing the solids with an aqueous liquid, as well as a stage of separating the wash solids and the resulting wash liquid.

Abstract: Described is a preferred process for obtaining an increased pitch yield from the distillation of crude coal tar material. The process includes treating a crude coal tar material by reaction with formaldehyde, followed by distillation of the coal tar to afford a yield of coal tar pitch which is significantly increased over that obtained without the formaldehyde treatment.

Abstract: An improve gasification system, in which synthesis gas is produced through the operation of a fuel gas production bed comprising an upper layer (66) of organic input material, typically in the form of pellets or briquettes of substantially uniform size and configuration which in one embodiment includes toxic waste material, two intermediate layers, one intermediate layer (70) for carbonizing the input material, and the other intermediate layer (72) for partially oxidizing and substantially completely pyrolyzing the input material and a lower layer (68) of tar-free charcoal. The length of the gas production bed from the top of the upper intermediate layer to the point where gas exits from the gas production bed is approximately at least 1.5 times the diameter of the bed, but not less than 7 feet. The residence time of the input material in the intermediate layers and the lower layers is such that activated carbon may be produced and/or the toxic waste input destroyed.

Abstract: Petroleum refinery waste stream sludges are recycled by segregating the sludges according to their oil content. Sludges of high oil content are developed and then injected into a delayed coking unit during the coking phase so that they are converted to coke and liquid coking products. High water content sludges are used to quench the coke during the quench phase of the coking cycle, with minimal increases in coke volatile matter. The process increases the capacity of the delayed coking unit to process and recycle refinery waste sludges and produce a coke of lower volatile content.

Abstract: Process water is formed when pyrolysis gas obtained in the pyrolytic decomposition of a starting material is cooled. Due to its content of chemical compounds, it is very costly to dispose of or eliminate the process water. A process for reducing the quantity of by-products in the generation of pyrolysis gas recycles the process water to a pyrolysis reactor operating with a fluidized bed. As a result, the process water is reduced in quantity and purified in a simple manner, and the yield of pyrolysis gas is increased.

Abstract: In a process for producing a coke by carbonization of a starting coal, the improvement wherein a coal containing a bulk density improving agent composed of a high-molecular organic compound capable of forming a hydrous gel in the presence of moisture is used as the starting coal.

Abstract: A process for treating high sulfur petroleum coke to inhibit puffing is disclosed wherein particles of the petroleum coke are contacted, in the absence of a binder, with a compound containing an alkali or alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, at an elevated temperature above that at which the alkali or alkaline earth metal compound begins to react with carbon, but below the temperature at which the coke particles would begin to puff in the absence of the compound. The coke particles are maintained at the elevated temperature for a sufficient period of time to permit the reaction to proceed and allow products of reaction to penetrate into the particles and form an alkali-or alkaline-earth-metal-containing deposit throughout the mass of the particles; and then cooling the so-treated coke particles.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for producing coke in a vertical furnace having an upper part for preheating and devolitalizing raw ovoids of coal, an electrically heated median part for carbonizing and coking the ovoids and a lower part for partially cooling the coked ovoids by counter current flow of recycled product gases recovered from the upper part of the furnace. A cooling chamber is connected to the lower part of the furnace for further cooling the coked ovoids by countercurrent flow of a portion of the recycled product gases which are withdrawn after flowing through the partially cooled coked ovoids and introduced into the upper part of the furnace to prevent condensation of condensibles contained in the product gases. The median part of the furnace may be electrically heated by electrodes, induction coils or a combination of electrodes and induction coils.

Abstract: Briquettes made from bituminous or sub-bituminous coal or peat are produced by grinding the coal, mixing it with a binder and compacting the mixture. They are then carbonized in a continuous process in a shaft oven. The coal may be predried and the finished briquettes may be preheated, with a subsequent drying and hardening. The carbonization is effected in two stages in an indirectly heated shaft oven, with the evolved gas being taken off about at the mid-height of the oven shaft, processed, and used for heating in the second, high-temperature stage. The flue gases from this high-temperature stage are used for heating in the first stage and for preheating. The second or high-temperature stage is followed by a cooling stage where the gases evolved in the second stage, and mainly comprising hydrogen are used and circulated. The evolved gas in excess is continuously removed from the cooling circuit.

Abstract: A method and system of continually reforming sewage and other organic materials into liquid oils and gases by pyrolysis using the contained and entrained water in the inorganic and organic constituents of the sewage.

Abstract: Hydrogen sulfide issuing from an oil shale retort is captured in an absorbent bed. When the bed is regenerated as with oxygen containing gas, the sulfur dioxide liberated is reintroduced into the retort for reaction with the spent shale.

Abstract: An improved coking process for normally solid carbonaceous materials wherein the yield of liquid product from the coker is increased by adding ammonia or an ammonia precursor to the coker. The invention is particularly useful in a process wherein coal liquefaction bottoms are coked to produce both a liquid and a gaseous product. Broadly, ammonia or an ammonia precursor is added to the coker ranging from about 1 to about 60 weight percent based on normally solid carbonaceous material and is preferably added in an amount from about 2 to about 15 weight percent.

Abstract: A upgrading method of low-rank coal containing higher ash and moisture contents into coal decreased in ash content and decreased in moisture content and heightened in heating value includes subjecting the low-rank coal to a low-temperature dry distillation treatment, pulverizing the dry-distilled low-rank coal to form a coal-water slurry and adding a binder to the slurry to effect oil agglomeration of the coal and promote separation of the ash.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a reaction chamber provided with a charging hole, a branch pipe for discharging a suspension, and a branch pipe for withdrawing a vapor-gas phase which branch pipe is communicated with a condenser. The apparatus further includes a heater provided with a heat-exchanger for preheating a solvent, said heat-exchanger being introduced into said heater and communicated with said reaction chamber through nozzles adapted for jet feeding of the solvent into the reaction mass.At the outlet of the reaction chamber there is mounted a distillation column communicated with the branch pipe for discharging the suspension and provided in the upper portion thereof with a branch pipe for withdrawal of the vapor-gas phase, while in the lower portion thereof there is provided a branch pipe for discharging a distillation residue.

Abstract: In a method for regeneration of moist powder adsorption agent, the moist-charged adsorption agent is first fed into the lower area of a fluidized bed which is provided with an aeration and heat-carrying material; the agent then is fed upwardly through the heat-carrying material while being simultaneously dried, and then the agent is withdrawn together with the vortex gas from the fluidized bed. The agent is separated from the vortex gas in a successively switched separator, and is then fed to a further fluidized bed which is provided with a further aeration and heat-carrying material. The agent is fed in that further bed upwardly through the further heat-carrying material and is simultaneously regenerated. The agent is then discharged together with the further vortex gas from the further fluidized bed. The vortex gases which are withdrawn can be reused as mixing gases during the vortex gas generation.

Abstract: An improved process for making metallurgical coke is provided which enables the use of coals that ordinarily do not yield coke of expected stability based on the rank of the coal. The comminuted coal is pretreated by contacting and reacting the coal with a halogenated hydrocarbon liquid, particularly perchloroethylene, and the pretreated coal is thereafter subjected to high temperature carbonization.

Abstract: A process for the production of ethylene, benzene and carbon monoxide from particulated biomass such as wood by reaction with methane at a temperature of from 700.degree. C. to 1200.degree. C., at a pressure of from 20 psi to 100 psi for a period of from 0.2 to 10 seconds.

Abstract: A coal is finely pulverized. The finely pulverized coal is subjected to dry distillation. A tar obtained by the dry distillation is added to an aqueous slurry together with the dry-distilled coal to effect the submerged granulation.

Abstract: A method for increasing the wet bulk density of coking coal charges for code ovens which charges contain at least about 6 and as much as 13 weight percent moisture, to an optimum level of between about 47 and 50 pounds per cubic foot (753 to 801 kg per cubic meter) and for controlling and maintaining the bulk density at such optimum levels, the method including:(a) forming a 5 to 20 weight percent aqueous dispersion of a surfactant having a desired viscosity, and(b) applying a quantity of the aqueous dispersion to a quantity of coal equivalent to between about 0.5 and 2.5 pounds (0.227 and 1.135 kg) of surfactant per ton (907.2 kg) of coal,the surfactant being an alkylphenoxypoly (ethyleneoxy) ethanol having a general formula: ##STR1## where R is an alkyl group having between about 8 and 12 carbon atoms, andn is an integer between 2 and 30,and is characterized by an HLB number in the range of about 4 and 18.

Abstract: The strength and density of a metallurgical coke produced in a slot coke oven are both increased by replacing at least a part of the normal loose charge in the oven with compacted materials and fragments thereof made from a mixture of particularly sized particulate fusible bituminous coal particles, non-fusible particles of a material compatible with the burden of a blast furnace, and water. During compacting the pressure and the moisture content of the mix are such that at least some water is squeezed out of the mix. The non-fusible materials that are useful include non-coking coals, poorly coking coals, other carbonaceous materials, such as coke breeze, char, anthracite, lignite, and iron oxide-bearing materials, such as iron ores and waste materials from steel plants. At least a major proportion of the fusible particles and at least a substantial proportion of the non-fusible particles are smaller than about 0.15 mm.

Abstract: Compacted carbonaceous shapes are produced by mixing a particulate carbonaceous material with a binder, forming green shapes from the mixture, and heating the green shapes by induction heating or microwave heating or a combination thereof. The process is particularly adapted for making formcoke.

Abstract: A fluid coking process is provided in which a polymetaphosphoric acid, a salt of a polymetaphosphoric acid or precursors thereof are present in the fluid coking zone.

Abstract: The production of oil by retorting shale and other hydrocarbonaceous and lignocellulosic solid materials is facilitated by retorting in the presence of steam and acetic acid.

Abstract: Very fine particle size iron oxide or calcium fluoride is dispersed in a high sulfur petroleum coker feedstock before delayed coking to produce a needle coke with low CTE and negligible puffing on heating to the temperature of graphitization.

Abstract: Very fine particle size chromic oxide is dispersed in a high sulfur petroleum coker feedstock before or during delayed coking to produce a needle coke with low CTE and negligible puffing on heating to the temperature of graphitization.

Abstract: The bulk density and throughput characteristics of coking coal are improved by treating the coal with a surfactant and a combination of fuel oil and alcohol or of solid lubricant and water, the surfactant being soluble in, and increasing the spreading coefficient of, fuel oil or water, as the case may be.

Abstract: The emission of halogens and sulfur dioxide and the formation of water-soluble compounds of heavy metals are suppressed in the pyrolysis of waste in a carbonization zone at a temperature in the range from 300.degree. to 600.degree. C. by adding a fine-grained basic material to the waste prior to completion of the pyrolysis of the waste in the carbonization zone.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving the properties of carbonous materials and products thereof by oxygen-alkylation. The carbonous material is treated with a quaternary base then heated to temperatures from about 100.degree. C. to 400.degree. C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving the caking properties of coals by use of quaternary base solutions. Caking properties of various coals can be upgraded for the production of metallurgical grade coke, preferably with a substantially reduced mineral matter content.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for comminuting and simultaneously removing mineral matter from coal by first treating the coal with a quaternary base solution, such as tetrabutylammonium hydroxide, then physically separating the mineral matter by any conventional separation technique based on the density differences of two materials.

Abstract: A method of reducing the carbonization pressure in the coking of coal is provided which comprises randomly dispersing flakes through the coal, said flakes formed of a material that does not pass through a plastic phase such as pressed sawdust wherein the flakes have a thickness of between about 1/8" and about 3/4" and a length and width of between about 1" and about 5".

Abstract: Highly caking coals are formed by selective oxygen-alkylation or oxygen-acylation of moderately, weakly or non-caking coals, employing a phase transfer reaction which chemically alters phenolic and carboxylic functional substituents. These two very polar functional groups are converted to relatively non-polar ethers and esters, respectively. The O-alkylation or O-acylation is carried out in a binary liquid phase solution (organic and water phases with a solid phase suspended in the medium). A quaternary ammonium or phosphonium salt is reacted with alkali or alkaline earth base to produce the corresponding quaternary ammonium or phosphonium base (an example of a phase transfer reagent). This quaternary base is non-nucleophilic and readily removes the phenolic and carboxylic protons but does little else to the coal structures. After the removal of the weakly acidic protons by the quaternary base, the phenoxides and carboxylates which are produced then undergo O-alkylation or O-acylation.

Abstract: Treatment of weakly acidic protons in coal by oxygen-alkylation or oxygen-acylation employing a phase transfer reaction under mild conditions increases the yield, lowers the viscosity and boiling ranges of coal liquefaction distillates and renders these coal liquids more compatible with petroleum liquids. The process also improves the compatibility with petroleum liquids of the coal liquefaction bottoms and their solubility in common organic solvents.The phase transfer reaction chemically alters phenolic and carboxylic functional substituents. These two very polar functional groups are converted to relatively non-polar ethers and esters, respectively. The O-alkylation or O-acylation is carried out in a binary liquid phase solution (organic and water phases with a solid phase suspended in the medium). A quaternary ammonium or phosphonium salt is reacted with alkali or alkaline earth base (caustic) to produce the corresponding quaternary ammonium or phosphonium base (an example of a phase transfer reagent).

Abstract: A combination of a retorting process with a granular filtration zone whereby finely divided solids are removed from hydrocarbonaceous vapors. Raw hydrocarbon-containing particles such as shale are retorted by contacting them with heat carrier particles, and the resulting hydrocarbonaceous vapors withdrawn from the retort are contaminated with entrained, finely divided solids. These solids are removed from the hydrocarbonaceous vapors by passing the contaminated vapors at substantially the retorting temperature transversely through a downwardly moving bed of solid contact material maintained at approximately retorting temperature. The solid contact material is selected from retorted solids, heat carrier particles and mixtures of them. The mixture of finely divided solids and contact material withdrawn from the granular filtration may be returned to the process.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for converting a substance containing organic matter into hydrocarbon vapors and solids residue by feeding the substance into the upstream portion of a substantially cylindrical retort having a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis, substantially conveying the substance through the retort toward the downstream portion thereof, heating the retort by means of a fluidized bed of heated particles to a sufficient temperature to convert the substance into hydrocarbon vapors and solids residue and removing the hydrocarbon vapors and solids residue from the retort.

Abstract: A process for producing calcined coke agglomerates characterized by having a low reactivity to carbon dioxide. The process includes calcining green coal agglomerates at a temperature within the range of 1700.degree. F. to 1950.degree. F. (927.degree. C. to 1066.degree. C.) in a calciner. The agglomerates are exposed to a gaseous atmosphere which before cracking contains not less than 20% by volume of at least one straight chain aliphatic hydrocarbon gas containing one to four carbon atoms. The gaseous atmosphere is preheated to a temperature within the range of 200.degree. F. to 700.degree. F.(93.degree. C. to 371.degree. C.) prior to being introduced into the calciner. Carbon produced when the hydrocarbon gas is cracked, is deposited as vitreous carbon on the surfaces, in the fissures and in the pores of the agglomerates. The calcined coke aggglomerates discharged from the calciner have a reactivity to carbon dioxide of between 2% to 8%.

Abstract: Puffing of electrode grade coke during graphitization is reduced or eliminated by addition of a puffing inhibitor to the coker feedstock prior to formation of the coke.

Abstract: The concentration of arsenic in shale oil produced from retorting arsenic-containing oil shale in a conventional retorting kiln is reduced by blending with said oil shale a nickel-containing additive. During retorting, the amount of arsenic released in vaporous form from the oil shale is reduced, thereby decreasing the amount of arsenic which collects with the produced liquid shale oil. Thus, a shale oil is produced having a significantly lower arsenic content than is obtainable without the use of the nickel additive.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing a continuous thermal treatment of organic carbonaceous materials under controlled pressure in which the feed material is introduced into the system in the form of a slurry, and the level of liquid is maintained at a preselected operating level, serving as a gas-tight seal. The feed material is conveyed upwardly of the liquid operating level and is thereafter introduced into a reaction chamber in which it is heated to within a controlled elevated temperature range under controlled pressure in a manner to effect vaporization of at least a portion of the volatile substances therein, forming a gaseous phase composed of condensible and noncondensible vapors.

Abstract: A fixed sulfur fuel is produced by proportioning sulfur-bearing coal and limestone in amounts which will cause the calcium in the limestone to react with a large amount of sulfur in the coal. The proportioned mixture is ground and blended and then balled or compacted to form pellets. By means of either a carbonizing or pyrolyzing technique conducted in a traveling grate machine, where the pellets are heated to at least 800.degree. F., the coal is pyrolyzed or carbonized, the limestone is calcined, and the sulfur is fixed in a calcium compound which remains stable in the ash after the pellets are burned as a fuel.

Abstract: Coal is liquefied by treatment with a hydrogen-donor solvent and gaseous hydrogen, a heavy bottoms product boiling primarily in excess of about 1000.degree. F. is recovered, and this bottoms product is then pyrolyzed with fresh coal to produce surprisingly high yields of liquid product. The coke formed during the pyrolysis step may be gasified to generate hydrogen for use in the liquefaction operation and additional gas which can be employed as a fuel or upgraded for other uses.

Abstract: A tar sands slurry containing sand particles of varying sizes dispersed therein is passed into a classifier wherein it is subdivided into at least two streams, each stream containing either coarse or fine solids. The stream containing coarse solids is directed to a separate solids removal zone where the solids are removed. The effluent from the solids removal zone and the fine solid containing stream are then fed to a coking zone.

Abstract: Tar sand is blended in a melt tank with oil to form a slurry which is separated into two streams one containing coarse sand, the other fine sand. The stream containing fine sand is then introduced into a coker yielding coke and a hydrocarbon vapor stream, the latter is introduced into the bottom section of a fractionator. The stream containing coarse sand is filtered. The sand is stripped with kerosine which is then fed to the fractionator together with the filtrate at intermediate points. The fractionation produces gas, gasoline, kerosine and various cuts of oil including heavy bottoms which are recycled to the coker and heavy gas oil which can be recycled to the melt tank.

Abstract: Heavy bottoms produced by the liquefaction of coal or similar carbonaceous solids are converted into more valuable products by adding an alkaline earth metal compound to the bottoms in a concentration sufficient to give, following pyrolysis of the bottoms, an alkaline earth metal-to-carbon atomic ratio of from about 0.005:1 to about 0.1:1; pyrolyzing the bottoms at a temperature of from about 900.degree. to about 1600.degree. F. to produce gases, hydrocarbon liquids and coke or char containing added alkaline earth metal constituents; and thereafter gasifying the char with steam.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting dust formation while feeding coal into a coking chamber, comprising preheating coal and subsequently contacting the coal with an aqueous solution of 30-70% by weight of waste sulfite liquor in amounts of about 0.5 to 1.0 parts by weight of said solution per 1000 parts by weight of said coal.

Abstract: A dry distillation process for treating bituminous or oil-containing fine-grained material, particularly tar sand, with a heat carrier comprising fine-grained dry distillation residue which is heated in a pneumatic conveyor line by hot combustion gases and then fed to a collecting vessel and mixed in a dry distillation zone with the fine-grained material to be subjected to dry distillation. The dry distillation residue is heated to a temperature of 600.degree.-850.degree. C before being mixed at least in part with the material which is to be subjected to dry distillation, said material containing at least 0.2% by weight magnesium carbonate and/or calcium carbonate.

Abstract: Fine-grained fuels such as coal are continuously degasified by a process wherein a fine-grained degasified residue is recirculated as a heat-carrying medium and is heated in a pneumatic conveyor line and then fed to a collecting vessel. A first partial stream of the heat-carrying medium is fed through a mixing zone together with the fuel to be subjected to dry distillation. A second partial stream of the heat-carrying medium is fed to a secondary degasification zone together with the mixture comprising the dry distillation residue. Volatile constituents are distilled from the mixture in the mixing zone and the secondary degasification zone and are fed to dust-collecting and condensing means. Degasified residue is recirculated to the pneumatic conveyor line.

Abstract: One of the problems encountered when feeding dry or preheated coal into coking chambers resides in that dust is generated. This dust is indesirable since it can form deposits which are difficult to remove. A method of inhibiting the dust formation when coal is fed into coking chambers is disclosed. The method involves contacting the coal with used motor oil prior to the introduction of the coal into the coking chambers. The utilization of used motor oil for inhibiting dust formation provides the advantages of economy and reduction of environmental pollution.