RECONSTITUTION OF BENEFICIATED COAL USING THE BIOBINDER PROCESS

FOR OPTIMAL BENEFICATION, COAL MUST BE FINELY GROUND TO RELEASE THE PYRITIC SULFUR AND ASH INCLUSIONS. THE RESULTING CLEAN PRODUCT IS DIFFICULT TO HANDLE, TRANSPORT AND STORE. BY RECONSTITUTING THE PRODUCT THROUGH PELLETIZATION, THESE DIFFICULTIESCAN BE OVERCOME. HOWEVER, EXCESSIVE PELLETIZATION COSTS, AND, IN PARTICULAR, BINDER COSTS, HAVE LIMITED THIS PRACTICE. APROCESS HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR THE RECONSTITION OF CLEANED COAL FINES. THIS PROCESS USES A MINIMAL COST BINDER AND SPECIAL PROCESSING CONDITIONS TO CREATE DURABLE FUEL PELLETS AT LOW COST. IN PHASE I THE SPECIAL BINDER AND PROCESSING EQUIPMENT WILL BE USED TO CREATE AND TEST FUEL PELLETS. THE DURABILITY, WEATHERABILITY, GRINDABILITY, AND COMBUSTION CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PELLETS WILL BE DETERMINED DURING THE PROJECT. ALSO, PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ANALYSES WILL BECOMBINED WITH THE BEST DATA TO DETERMINE THE OVERALL FEASIBILITY OF THE PROCESS FOR RECONSTITUTING CLEANED COAL FINES.