Structural properties of residual carbon in coal gasification fine slag and their influence on flotation separation and resource utilization:A review

Coal gasification fine slag(FS)is a typical solid waste generated in coal gasification.Its current disposal methods of stockpil-ing and landfilling have caused serious soil and ecological hazards.Separation recovery and the high-value utilization of residual carbon(RC)in FS are the keys to realizing the win-win situation of the coal chemical industry in terms of economic and environmental benefits.The structural properties,such as pore,surface functional group,and microcrystalline structures,of RC in FS(FS-RC)not only affect the flotation recovery efficiency of FS-RC but also form the basis for the high-value utilization of FS-RC.In this paper,the characteristics of FS-RC in terms of pore structure,surface functional groups,and microcrystalline structure are sorted out in accordance with gasification type and FS particle size.The reasons for the formation of the special structural properties of FS-RC are analyzed,and their influence on the flotation separation and high-value utilization of FS-RC is summarized.Separation methods based on the pore structural characterist-ics of FS-RC,such as ultrasonic pretreatment-pore-blocking flotation and pore breaking-flocculation flotation,are proposed to be the key development technologies for improving FS-RC recovery in the future.The design of low-cost,low-dose collectors containing polar bonds based on the surface and microcrystalline structures of FS-RC is proposed to be an important breakthrough point for strengthening the flotation efficiency of FS-RC in the future.The high-value utilization of FS should be based on the physicochemical structural proper-ties of FS-RC and should focus on the environmental impact of hazardous elements and the recyclability of chemical waste liquid to es-tablish an environmentally friendly utilization method.This review is of great theoretical importance for the comprehensive understand-ing of the unique structural properties of FS-RC,the breakthrough of the technological bottleneck in the efficient flotation separation of FS,and the expansion of the field of the high value-added utilization of FS-RC.

Agglomeration of coal and polyethylene mixtures during fixed‑bed co‑gasification

The article presents the results of experimental studies on the gasification of mixtures of brown coal and polyethylene(up to 20 wt%fraction)in a laboratory reactor.The work aims to study the agglomeration process during the heating and oxidation of the mixtures.The measurement results(gas composition,pressure drop)provide indirect information on the dynamics of thermal decomposition and structural changes in the fuel bed.We have shown that the interaction between polyethylene and a coal surface leads to the formation of dense agglomerates,in which the molten polymer acts as a binder.Clinkers form as a result of interfacial interactions between components and filtration flow rearranging.The hydrogen/carbon ratio in the solid residue of coal-polyethylene co-gasification increases from 0.07–0.2 to 1.11,indicating the formation of stable hydrocarbon compounds on the carbon surface.The conducted research makes it possible to identify possible interactions between chemical reactions and transfer processes that lead to agglomeration in mixtures of coal with polyethylene.

Multiscale analysis of fine slag from pulverized coal gasification in entrained-flow bed

Fine slag(FS)is an unavoidable by-product of coal gasification.FS,which is a simple heap of solid waste left in the open air,easily causes environmental pollution and has a low resource utilization rate,thereby restricting the development of energy-saving coal gasification technologies.The multiscale analysis of FS performed in this study indicates typical grain size distribution,composition,crystalline structure,and chemical bonding characteristics.The FS primarily contained inorganic and carbon components(dry bases)and exhibited a"three-peak distribution"of the grain size and regular spheroidal as well as irregular shapes.The irregular particles were mainly adsorbed onto the structure and had a dense distribution and multiple pores and folds.The carbon constituents were primarily amorphous in structure,with a certain degree of order and active sites.C 1s XPS spectrum indicated the presence of C–C and C–H bonds and numerous aromatic structures.The inorganic components,constituting 90%of the total sample,were primarily silicon,aluminum,iron,and calcium.The inorganic components contained Si–O-Si,Si–O–Al,Si–O,SO_(4)^(2−),and Fe–O bonds.Fe 2p XPS spectrum could be deconvoluted into Fe 2p_(1/2) and Fe 2p_(3/2) peaks and satellite peaks,while Fe existed mainly in the form of Fe(III).The findings of this study will be beneficial in resource utilization and formation mechanism of fine slag in future.

A critical review on direct catalytic hydrogasification of coal into CH_(4):catalysis process configurations,evaluations,and prospects

Coal catalytic hydrogasification(CCHG)is a straightforward approach for producing CH_(4),which shows advantages over the mature coal-to-CH_(4) technologies from the perspectives of CH_(4) yield,thermal efficiency,and CO_(2) emission.The core of CCHG is to make carbon in coal convert into CH_(4) efficiently with a catalyst.In the past decades,intensive research has been devoted to catalytic hydrogasification of model carbon(pitch coke,activated carbon,coal char).However,the chemical process of CCHG is still not well understood because the coal structure is more complicated,and CCHG is a combination of coal catalytic hydropyrolysis and coal char catalytic hydrogasification.This review seeks to shed light on the catalytic process of raw coal during CCHG.The configuration of suitable catalysts,operating conditions,and feedstocks for tailoring CH_(4) formation were identified,and the underlying mechanisms were elucidated.Based on these results,the CCHG process was evaluated,emphasizing pollutant emissions,energy efficiency,and reactor design.Furthermore,the opportunities and strategic approaches for CCHG under the restraint of carbon neutrality were highlighted by considering the penetration of“green”H2,biomass,and CO_(2) into CCHG.Preliminary investigations from our laboratories demonstrated that the integrated CCHG and biomass/CO_(2) hydrogenation process could perform as an emerging pathway for boosting CH_(4) production by consuming fewer fossil fuels,fulfilling the context of green manufacturing.This work not only provides systematic knowledge of CCHG but also helps to guide the efficient hydrogenation of other carbonaceous resources such as biomass,CO_(2),and coal-derived wastes.

Effective separation of coal gasification fine slag: Role of classification and ultrasonication in enhancing flotation

Effective separation of residual carbon and ash is the basis for the resource utilization of coal gasification fine slag(CGFS).The conventional flotation process of CGFS has the bottlenecks of low carbon recovery and high collector dosage.In order to address these issues,CGFS sample taken from Shaanxi,China was used as the study object in this paper.A new process of size classification-fine grain ultrasonic pretreatment flotation(SC-FGUF)was proposed and its separation effect was compared with that of wholegrain flotation(WGF)as well as size classification-fine grain flotation(SC-FGF).The mechanism of its enhanced separation effect was revealed through flotation kinetic fitting,flotation flow foam layer stability,particle size composition,surface morphology,pore structure,and surface chemical property analysis.The results showed that compared with WGF,pre-classification could reduce the collector dosage by 84.09%and the combination of pre-classification and ultrasonic pretreatment could increase the combustible recovery by 17.29%and up to 93.46%.The SC-FGUF process allows the ineffective adsorption of coarse residual carbon to collector during flotation stage to be reduced by pre-classification,and the tightly embedded state of fine CGFS particles is disrupted and surface oxidizing functional group occupancy was reduced by ultrasonic pretreatment,thus carbon and ash is easier to be separated in the flotation process.In addition,some of the residual carbon particles were broken down to smaller sizes in the ultrasonic pretreatment,which led to an increase in the stability of flotation flow foam layer and a decrease in the probability of detachment of residual carbon particles from the bubbles.Therefore,SCFGUF could increase the residual carbon recovery and reduce the flotation collector dosage,which is an innovative method for carbon-ash separation of CGFS with good application prospect.

A Gasification Technology to Combine Oil Sludge with Coal-Water Slurry:CFD Analysis and Performance Determination

The development of more environment-friendly ways to dispose of oil sludge is currently regarded as a hot topic.In this context,gasification technologies are generally seen as a promising way to combine oil sludge with coal–water slurry(CWS)and generate resourceful fuel.In this study,a novel five-nozzle gasifier reactor was analyzed by means of a CFD(Computational fluid dynamic)method.Among several influential factors,special attention was paid to the height-to-diameter ratio of the gasifier and the mixing ratio of oil sludge,which are known to have a significant impact on the flow field,temperature distribution and gasifier performances.According to the numerical results,the optimal height-to-diameter ratio and oil mixing ratio are about 2.4:1 and 20%,respectively.Furthermore,the carbon conversion rate can become as high as 98.55%with the hydrolysis rate reaching a value of 53.88%.The consumption of raw coal and oxygen is generally reduced,while the effective gas production is increased to 50.93 mol/%.

Experimental study on the activation of coal gasification fly ash from industrial CFB gasifiers

Coal gasification fly ash(CGFA)is an industrial solid waste from the coal circulating fluidized bed(CFB)gasification process,and it needs to be effectively disposed to achieve sustainable development of the environment.To realize the application of CGFA as a precursor of porous carbon materials,the physicochemical properties of three kinds of CGFA from industrial CFB gasifiers are analyzed.Then,the activation potential of CGFA is acquired via steam activation experiments in a tube furnace reactor.Finally,the fluidization activation technology of CGFA is practiced in a bench-scale CFB test rig,and its advantages are highlighted.The results show that CGFA is characterized by a high carbon content in the range of 54.06%–74.09%,an ultrafine particle size(d50:16.3–26.1 μm),and a relatively developed pore structure(specific surface area SSA:139.29–551.97 m^(2)·g^(-1)).The proportion of micropores in CGFA increases gradually with the coal rank.Steam activation experiments show that the pore development of CGFA mainly includes three stages:initial pore development,dynamic equilibrium between micropores and mesopores and pore collapse.The SSA of lignite fly ash(LFA),subbituminous fly ash(SBFA)and anthracite fly ash(AFA)is maximally increased by 105%,13%and 72%after steam activation;the order of the largest carbon reaction rate and decomposition ratio of steam among the three kinds of CGFA is SBFA>LFA>AFA.As the ratio of oxygen to carbon during the fluidization activation of LFA is from 0.09 to 0.19,the carbon conversion ratio increases from 14.4%to 26.8%and the cold gas efficiency increases from 6.8%to 10.2%.The SSA of LFA increases by up to 53.9%during the fluidization activation process,which is mainly due to the mesoporous development.Relative to steam activation in a tube furnace reactor,fluidization activation takes an extremely short time(seconds)to achieve the same activation effect.It is expected to further improve the activation effect of LFA by regulating the carbon conversion ratio range of 27%–35%to create pores in the initial development stage.

Occurrence,leaching behavior,and detoxification of heavy metal Cr in coal gasification slag

Coal gasification slag(CGS)is a type of solid waste produced during coal gasification,in which heavy metals severely restrict its resource utilization.In this work,the mineral occurrence and distribution of typical heavy metal Cr in CGS is investigated.The leaching behavior of Cr under different conditions is studied in detail.Acid leaching-selective oxidation-coprecipitation method is proposed based on the characteristics of Cr in CGS.The detoxification of Cr in CGS is realized,and the detoxification mechanism is clarified.Results show that Cr is highly enriched in CGS.The speciation of Cr is mainly residual fraction(74.47%-86.12%),which is combined with amorphous aluminosilicate.Cr^(3+)and Cr^(6+)account for 90.93%-94.82%and 5.18%-9.07%of total Cr,respectively.High acid concentration and high liquid-solid ratio are beneficial to destroy the lattice structure of amorphous aluminosilicate,thus improving the leaching efficiency of Cr,which can reach 97.93%under the optimal conditions.Acid leaching-selective oxidation-coprecipitation method can realize the detoxification of Cr in CGS.Under the optimal conditions,the removal rates of Fe^(3+)and Cr^(3+)in the leaching solution are 80.99%-84.79%and 70.58%-71.69%,respectively,while the loss rate of Al^(3+)is only 1.10%-3.35%.Detoxification slag exists in the form of Fe-Cr coprecipitation(Fe_(1-x)Cr_xOOH),which can be used for smelting.The detoxification acid leaching solution can be used to prepare inorganic polymer composite coagulant poly-aluminum chloride(PAC).This study can provide theoretical and data guidance for detoxification of heavy metal Cr in CGS and achieve resource utilization of coal gasification solid waste.

Recycling and utilization of coal gasification residues for fabricating Fe/C composites as novel microwave absorbents

Under the background of a transformation of the global energy structure,coal gasification technology has a wide application prospect,but its by-product,the coal gasification residue(CGR),is still not being efficiently utilized for recycling.The CGR contains abundant carbon components,which could be applied to the microwave absorption field as the carbon matrix.In this study,Fe/CGR composites are fabricated via a two-step method,including the impregnation of Fe^(3+)and the reduction process.The influence of the different loading capacities of the Fe component on the morphology and electromagnetic properties is studied.Moreover,the loading content of Fe and the surface morphology of the Fe/CGR can be reasonably controlled by adjusting the concentration of the ferric nitrate solution.Meanwhile,Fe particles are evenly inserted on the CGR framework,which expands the Fe/CGR interfaces to enhance interfacial polarization,thus further improving the microwave-absorbing(MA)properties of composites.Particularly,as the Fe^(3+)concentration is 1.0 mol/L,the Fe/CGR composite exhibits outstanding performance.The reflection loss reaches-39.3 dB at 2.5 mm,and the absorption bandwidth covers 4.1 GHz at 1.5 mm.In this study,facile processability,resource recycling,appropriately matched impedance,and excellent MA performance are achieved.Finally,the Fe/CGR composites not only enhance the recycling of the CGR but also pioneer a new path for the synthesis of excellent absorbents.

Integrated vacuum pressure swing adsorption and Rectisol process for CO_(2) capture from underground coal gasification syngas

An integrated vacuum pressure swing adsorption(VPSA) and Rectisol process is proposed for CO_(2) capture from underground coal gasification(UCG) syngas. A ten-bed VPSA process with silica gel adsorbent is firstly designed to pre-separate and capture 74.57% CO_(2) with a CO_(2) purity of 98.35% from UCG syngas(CH_(4)/CO/CO_(2)/H_(2)/N_(2)= 30.77%/6.15%/44.10%/18.46%/0.52%, mole fraction, from Shaar Lake Mine Field,Xinjiang Province, China) with a feed pressure of 3.5 MPa. Subsequently, the Rectisol process is constructed to furtherly remove and capture the residual CO_(2)remained in light product gas from the VPSA process using cryogenic methanol(233.15 K, 100%(mass)) as absorbent. A final purified gas with CO_(2) concentration lower than 3% and a regenerated CO_(2) product with CO_(2) purity higher than 95% were achieved by using the Rectisol process. Comparisons indicate that the energy consumption is deceased from 2.143 MJ·kg^(-1) of the single Rectisol process to 1.008 MJ·kg^(-1) of the integrated VPSA & Rectisol process, which demonstrated that the deployed VPSA was an energy conservation process for CO_(2) capture from UCG syngas. Additionally, the high-value gas(e.g., CH_(4)) loss can be decreased and the effects of key operating parameters on the process performances were detailed.

Numerical Simulation of Pressurized Spouted Fluidized Bed for Coal Semi-Gasification

Numerical simulation study is conducted for a pressurized spouted fluidized bed coal carbonizer, in which hydrodynamics of pressurized spouted fluidized bed, chemical reactions and energy balance are taken into account. The effect of operating conditions such as bed pressure, air and steam mass flow ratio, temperature on product compositions in the bed is investigated. According to the calculated results, bed pressure and bed temperature have the key effects on coal semi gasification.

Review of the characteristics and graded utilisation of coal gasification slag

The characteristics of the energy structure of rich coal,less oil and less gas,coupling with a high external dependence on oil and natural gas and the emphasis on the efficient and clean utilisation of coal,have brought opportunities for coal chemical industry.However,with the large-scale popularisation of coal gasification technology,the production and resulting storage of coal gasification slag continue to increase,which not only result in serious environmental pollution and a waste of terrestrial resources,but also seriously affect the sustainable development of coal chemical enterprises.Hence,the treatment of coal gasification slag is extremely important.In this paper,the production,composition,morphology,particle size structure and water holding characteristics of coal gasification slag are introduced,and the methods of carbon ash separation of gasification slag,both domestically and abroad,are summarised.In addition,the paper also summarises the research progress on gasification slag in building materials,ecological restoration,residual carbon utilisation and other high-value utilisation,and ultimately puts forward the idea of the comprehensive utilisation of gasification slag.For large-scale consumption to solve the environmental problems of enterprises and achieve high-value utilisation to increase the economic benefits of enterprises,it is urgent to zealously design a reasonable and comprehensive utilisation technologies with simple operational processes,strong adaptability and economic benefits.

Comparison of kinetic models for isothermal CO_2 gasification of coal char–biomass char blended char

This study investigated the isothermal gasification reactivity of biomass char （BC） and coal char （CC） blended at mass ratios of 1：3, 1：1, and 3：1 via isothermal thermogravimelric analysis （TGA） at 900, 950, and 1000℃ under CO2. With an increase in BC blending ra- tio, there were an increase in gasification rate and a shortening of gasification time. This could be attributed to the high specific surface area of BC and the high uniformity of carbon structures in CC when compared to those in BC. Three representative gas-solid kinetic models, namely, the volumetric model （VM）, grain model （GM）, and random pore model （RPM）, were applied to describe the reaction behavior of the char. Among them, the RPM model was considered the best model to describe the reactivity of the char gasification reaction. The activa- tion energy of BC and CC isothermal gasification as determined using the RPM model was found to be 126.7 kJ/mol and 210.2 kJ/mol, re- spectively. The activation energy was minimum （123.1 kJ/mol） for the BC blending ratio of 75%. Synergistic effect manifested at all mass ratios of the blended char, which increased with the gasification temperature.

Environmental benefits of underground coal gasification

Environmental benefits of underground coal gasification are evaluated. The results showed that through underground coal gasification, gangue discharge is eliminated, sulfur emission is reduced, and the amount of ash, mercury, and tar discharge are decreased. Moreover, effect of underground gasification on underground water is analyzed and CO 2 disposal method is put forward.

The Role of Diatomite Particles in the Activated Sludge System for Treating Coal Gasification Wastewater

Diatomite is a kind of natural low-cost mineral material. It has a number of unique physical properties and has been widely used as an adsorbent in wastewater treatment. This study was conducted to investigate the aerobic biodegradation of coal gasification wastewater with and without diatomite addition. Experimental results indicated that diatomite added in the activated sludge system could promote the biomass and also enhance the performance of the sludge settling. The average mixed-liquor volatile suspended solids （MLVSS） is increased from 4055 mg.L^-1 to 4518 mg.L^-1 and the average settling volume （SV） are changed only from 45.9% to 47.1%. Diatomite additive could enhance the efficiency of chemical oxygen demand （COD） and total phenols removal from the wastewater. The COD removal increased from 73.3% to near 80% and the total phenols removal increased from 81.4% to 85.8%. The mechanisms of the increase of biomass and pollutants removal may correlates to the improvement of bioavailability and sludge settlement characteristics by diatomite added. Micrograph of the sludge in the diatomite-activated sludge system indicated that the diatomite added could be the carrier of the microbe and also affect the biomass and pollutant removal.

Pretreatment of Coal Gasification Wastewater by Acidification Demulsion

General pretreatment processes of ammonia stripping and phenols solvent extraction can reduce the concentration of toxic compounds of the coal gasification wastewater for the following biological treatment. However, some emulsified coal tar still exists in the influent and many substances in coal tar are refractory and toxic to microorganisms. This study is mainly on the removal of emulsified coal tar by acidification demulsion. The experimental results show that the acidification process of the wastewater by pure hydrochloric acid can reduce the chemical oxygen demand （COD）, total organic carbon （TOC）, total phenolics and oil about 3.1%-11.3%, 6%-- 10.8%, 5.3%--8.6% and 25.2%--57.4% respectively with pH value in the range of 4 to 7. The analysis of molecular weight distribution indicates that compounds removed from the wastewater by this process are large molecular substances. The experiment also shows that the efficiency of COD removal in the demulsion process by different acids is different and the phosphoric acid is prominent. The preserved time of the wastewater also affects the efficiency of demulsion. Small amount low-cost solid additives including kaolin and diatomite can improve the rate of coal tar sedimentation and enhance the removal efficiency of organics in the phosphoric acidification process.

Groundwater Pollution from Underground Coal Gasification

In situ coal gasification poses a potential environmental risk to groundwater pollution although it depends mainly on local hydrogeological conditions. In our investigation,the possible processes of groundwater pollution origi-nating from underground coal gasification (UCG) were analyzed. Typical pollutants were identified and pollution con-trol measures are proposed. Groundwater pollution is caused by the diffusion and penetration of contaminants generated by underground gasification processes towards surrounding strata and the possible leaching of underground residue by natural groundwater flow after gasification. Typical organic pollutants include phenols,benzene,minor components such as PAHs and heterocyclics. Inorganic pollutants involve cations and anions. The natural groundwater flow after gasification through the seam is attributable to the migration of contaminants,which can be predicted by mathematical modeling. The extent and concentration of the groundwater pollution plume depend primarily on groundwater flow ve-locity,the degree of dispersion and the adsorption and reactions of the various contaminants. The adsorption function of coal and surrounding strata make a big contribution to the decrease of the contaminants over time and with the distance from the burn cavity. Possible pollution control measures regarding UCG include identifying a permanently,unsuitable zone,setting a hydraulic barrier and pumping contaminated water out for surface disposal. Mitigation measures during gasification processes and groundwater remediation after gasification are also proposed.

Coal Gasification Wastewater Pretreatment with Coagulation and N_2 Flotation Combined System

A N 2 flotation tank combined with coagulation was developed as a pretreatment equipment of biological process to remove oil and other pollutants in coal gasification wastewater( CGW). With optimal PAC dosage of 20 mg / L,the sole coagulation process achieves removal efficiencies of 29. 34% and 26. 83% for oil and COD,respectively. For the sole N 2 floatation process,the optimal N 2 flux and HRT are 20 m3/ h and 20 min. Meanwhile,the oil and COD removal efficiencies are 35. 41% and 14. 26%,respectively. For the combined system of coagulation and N 2 floatation,the optimal parameter values are the same as the ones of separate processes. Correspondingly,the removal efficiencies are 46. 28% and 31. 89% for oil and COD, respectively. Besides,BOD 5 / COD of the effluent is improved. In contrast with conventional dissolved air floatation,the inert gas- N 2 prevents the formation of cyclopentenone, pyridine derivatives, and other heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,thus improving the biodegradability of influent for the subsequent biological processes.

Method of oxygen-enriched two-stage underground coal gasification

Two-stage underground coal gasification was studied to improve the caloric value of the syngas and to extend gas production times.A model test using the oxygen-enriched two-stage coal gasification method was carried out.The composition of the gas produced,the time ratio of the two stages,and the role of the temperature field were analysed.The results show that oxygen-enriched two-stage gasification shortens the time of the first stage and prolongs the time of the second stage.Feed oxygen concentrations of 30%, 35%,40%,45%.60%,or 80%gave time ratios（first stage to second stage） of 1：0.12,1：0.21.1：0.51,1：0.64, 1：0.90.and 1：4.0 respectively.Cooling rates of the temperature field after steam injection decreased with time from about 19.1-27.4℃/min to 2.3-6.8℃/min.But this rate increased with increasing oxygen concentrations in the first stage.The caloric value of the syngas improves with increased oxygen concentration in the first stage.Injection of 80%oxygen-enriched air gave gas with the highest caloric value and also gave the longest production time.The caloric value of the gas obtained from the oxygenenriched two-stage gasification method lies in the range from 5.31 MJ/Nm^3 to 10.54 MJ/Nm^3.

Simulation of coal char gasification using O_(2)/CO_(2)

The authors proposed an integrated gasification fuel cell zero-emission system.The coal char gasification is discussed using high temperature and concentration of CO_(2) produced by solid oxide fuel cells and oxy-fuel combustion.The gasification is simulated by Aspen plus based on Gibbs free energy minimization method.Gasification model of pulverized coal char is computed and analyzed.Effects of gas flow rate,pressure,preheating temperature,heat losses on syngas composition,reaction temperature,lower heating value and carbon conversion are studied.Results and parameters are determined as following.The optimum O_(2) flow rate is 20 kg/h.The reaction temperature decreases from 1645 to 1329℃when the CO_(2)flow rate increases from 0 to 5 kg/h,the CO_(2) flow rate should be operated reasonably;lower heating value reduces and reaction temperature increases as the pressure increases;compared to the CO_(2) preheating,O_(2) preheating has greater influence on reaction temperature and lower heating value.