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FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT December 1, 1989 through August 31, 1990

Proj ect Ti t 1 e: PARTICLE SIZE ENLARGEMENT OF FINE COAL OR CHAR USING LIGNOCELLULOSIC RESIDUE FROM TVA'S BIOMASS PRQGRAM

. Principal Investigator: Henry P. Ehrl i nger I II . Illinois State Geological 615'East Peabody Drive Champaign, IL 61820

Co-investigators: Poo Chow Richard C. D.M. Rapp, C. Chaven,

Project Monitor: Ken K. Ho

UI-UC Strickland TVA C.W. Kruse, and M. Rostam-Abadi

CRSC

. ABSTRACT

Survey

ISGS

Finely divided fuel results from processes designed to decrease the sulfur· content in coal such as the ISGS aggregate flotation process and chemical cleaning proc~sses. The marketability of these low sulfur fuels would be improved by enlarging the particle size through the use of binders. An added bonus would accrue if the binder were to increase the volatile matter. Under proper conditions of temperature and pressure, lignocellu­losic residue is an excellent binder for briquetting or extrusion pelletization. This project explores the use of lignin containing materials as a binder for fine coal and char.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is supplying the binders for this . project; a lignocellulosic by-product (LBP) from its process for conversion of wood, paper from municipal solid waste or peat to ethanol as well as oak sawdust. Acceptable strength of pellets were demonstrated with good burning characteristics from fine coal and LBP in the initial phase of the research.

The work reported herein shows the applicability of the oak sawdust and LBP from municipal waste which can be used with coal similarly to that LBP from wood and the bi nders al so work well wi th char and provide added

. volatile matter to replace that remov~d during the charring operation. Examples of the burning characteristics of the several binders ~nd the· char and coal are given. Some of the pellets which were made meet current and proposed acid rain limits.

(This project is partially funded by Tennessee Valley Authority.)