Oxidative Desulfurization of Tufanbeyli Coal by Hydrogen Peroxide Solution

Abstract

It is becoming popular to use fossil fuels efficiently since the necessary energy is mostly supplied from fossil fuels. Altough there are high lignite reservoirs, high sulfur content limits the efficient use of them. In this article, we aimed to convert combustible sulfur in coal to non-combustible sulfate form in the ash by oxidizing it with a hydrogen peroxide solution. The parameters affecting the sulfur conversion were determined to be: hydrogen peroxide concentration, reaction time, mean particle size at constant room temperature and shaking rate. The maximum desulfurization efficiency reached was 74% of the original combustible sulfur with 15% (w/w) hydrogen peroxide solution, 12 hours of reaction time, and 0.25 mm mean particle size.

Keywords:

• coal
• hydrogen peroxide
• oxidative desulfurization

Acknowledgments

This work has been supported by DPT (the State Planning Organization of Turkey) under project numbers 2001K120590 and 2003K120470-33. The authors are grateful to the DPT for financial support and Gazi University for the provision of laboratory facilities.