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FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT September 1989 through 31 August 1990

Project Title: CHARACTERIZATION OF ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS IN COALS AND PURE.MACERALS

Principal Investigator: John C. Crelling, Professor Department of Geology

Co-Investigator:

Co-Investigator: Other Invetsigator:

Project Monitor:

Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 11 62901 (618) 453-3351

Edwin J. Htppo, Associate Professor Department of Mechanical Engineering and Energy Processes Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL 62901 (618) 536-2396

Michael A. Kruge, Assistant Professor Stephen R. Palmer, Adj. Ass. Professor Department of Geology Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL 62901 (618) 453-3351

Dan Banerjee, CRSC

ABSTRACT

Organic sulfur is a significant problem in that it often accounts for 33 to 50% or more of the sulfur in Illinois coals. Because the organic sulfur is 'generally not removed in normal coal cleaning methods, it is a major problem in the utilization of III inois coals. Although a knowledge of the forms of organic sulfur is ·important information for any plan for sulfur removal, little detailed information is presently available. The.primary objective of ~his study was to determine the distribution of the various forms of organic sulfur in a series of coals and macerals. During this year four IBC coals have been analysed for sulfur compounds using a variety of approaches. Results obtained support the follow conclusions: 1;- Different macerals have different distributions of organic sulfur compounds. 2. Maceral separation is necessary for the detection of some sulfur compounds. 3. Only a limited number of significant volatile sulfur-containing compounds were detected in the oxidation products. 4. Methyl sulfonic acid from the oxidation of simple thiophenes or methyldisulfides accounted for 20-40% of the organic sulfur in the original coals. 5. An oxidation product was isolated that contained nearly 50% of the organic sulfur and 65% of the organ i c nitrogen in the parent coal but yet represented on 1 y 10% of the we i ght of the coa 1. 6. Both react i ve and unreactive classes of organic sulfur compounds were detected. 7.Coal minerals such as pyrite influence the reactions of the organic portion of the coal.