Direct Liquefaction of South African Vitrinite- and Inertinite-Rich Coal Fines

In this investigation, coal fines enriched with inertinite were used for direct liquefaction experiments. For comparison, a vitrinite-rich coal typically utilized in coal-to-liquid processes was also employed. To assess the impact of mineral matter content, demineralization was used to remove most of the inorganic constituents. The findings revealed that the inertinite-rich coal exhibited lower liquefaction conversions due to a reduced proportion of reactive macerals and elevated levels of inorganic mineral matter. These conversion values exhibited a strong correlation with the quantity of reactive macerals present in the parent coals. For the inertinite-rich coal, the presence of inorganic mineral matter impeded the liquefaction process but facilitated the CO2 gasification reactions of the derived chars. To evaluate their potential in gasification processes, CO2 gasification experiments were conducted and the reactivities and apparent gasification activation energies of both coal chars, liquefaction residue chars, and preasphaltene and asphaltene (PAA) chars were calculated. These calculations were carried out using the random pore model (RPM) and volumetric reaction model (VRM). The chemistry, reactivity, and kinetics of residue gasification conversion are not thoroughly understood, yet they hold significant importance in optimizing syngas production within gasification processes. The findings from this work highlight significant differences in liquefaction conversion values, product distribution, and composition. These differences are influenced by factors such as maceral composition, inorganic mineral matter content, hydrogen-donor capabilities of the solvent, and liquefaction reaction temperatures. Additionally, these variables affect the CO2 gasification reactivity of liquefaction solid residue chars.

Chemical and physical characterization of spent coffee ground biochar treated by a wet oxidation method for the production of a coke substitute

Coke production relies on the availability, cost and quality of coking coal. Depleting coking coal resources and environmental pressure force the metallurgical industry to search for alternative methods to produce coke. Waste spent coffee grounds (biomass) treated via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is an energy-efficient method to produce biochar. In this study the use of HTL biochar as feedstock for the production of a coke substitute was investigated. Wet oxidation treatment of the prepared biochar samples was done with different wet oxidant hydrogen peroxide concentrations (5, 15, 30%). The biochar was treated for different time durations (0.5, 1, 2, 6 and 24 h) and at different temperatures (room temperature and 80 °C). Thereafter, the various samples were characterized and pyrolysed to obtain a coke substitute. Characterization of the various samples before and after thermal treatment was done using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), free swelling index, ultimate and proximate analysis, gross calorific value and compressive strength determination. The investigated characteristics of the produced coke substitute obtained from the pyrolysed biochar treated for 24 h with 30 vol% H₂O₂ at room temperature, showed the most promising results when compared to blast furnace coke.

In Situ Capturing and Absorption of Sulfur Gases Formed during Thermal Treatment of South African Coals

The objective of this study, the first of its kind on these specific South African low-sulfur coals, was to capture H₂S and SO₂ produced under inert and oxidizing conditions from sulfur compounds present in the coals. The capturing agents were calcium and magnesium oxides formed during the transformation of calcite and dolomite. The effectiveness of two different scrubbing solutions (0.15 M cadmium acetate and 1.1 M potassium hydroxide) for absorption of volatilized H₂S and SO₂ was also investigated. The bituminous coal (coal A) contained dolomite, calcite, pyrite, and organic sulfur. Lignite (coal B) had a high organic sulfur content and contained gypsum, no or low dolomite and pyrite contents, and no calcite. A third sample (coal C) was prepared by adding 5 wt % potassium carbonate to coal A. Under oxidizing conditions and at elevated temperatures, FeS₂ produced Fe₂O₃, FeO, and SO₂. It transformed to FeS and released H₂S under inert conditions. Organic sulfur interacted with organically bound calcium and magnesium at 400 °C in an inert atmosphere to form calcium sulfate and oldhamite ((Ca,Mg)S). CaO, produced from calcite or dolomite, reacted with SO₂ and O₂ at 950 °C to form calcium sulfate. Treatment of lignite at 400-950 °C resulted in 96-98% evolution of sulfur as gases. Hydrogen sulfide formation increased with the increasing thermal treatment temperature under inert conditions for the three coals. Under oxidizing conditions, sulfur dioxide formation decreased with the increasing temperature when heating coals B and C. The lowest ratio (0.01) of H₂S to SO₂ was achieved during thermal treatment of the blend of coal and potassium carbonate (coal C), implying that almost all of sulfur was retained in the coal C ash/char samples. In situ capturing of sulfur gases by CaO and MgO and by the added K₂CO₃ in coal C to form calcium/magnesium/potassium sulfates and potassium/calcium/magnesium aluminosilicate glasses during utilization of these and similar coals could reduce the percentage of sulfur volatilized from the coals by 54-100%, thereby potentially decreasing their impact on the environment.

Chemical and structural characterization of char development during lignocellulosic biomass pyrolysis

The chemical and structural changes of three lignocellulosic biomass samples during pyrolysis were investigated using both conventional and advanced characterization techniques. The use of ATR-FTIR as a characterization tool is extended by the proposal of a method to determine aromaticity, the calculation of both CH₂/CH₃ ratio and the degree of aromatic ring condensation ((R/C)_u). With increasing temperature, the H/C and O/C ratios, X_A and CH₂/CH₃ ratio decreased, while (R/C)_u and aromaticity increased. The micropore network developed with increasing temperature, until the coalescence of pores at 1100°C, which can be linked to increasing carbon densification, extent of aromatization and/or graphitization of the biomass chars. WAXRD-CFA measurements indicated the gradual formation of nearly parallel basic structural units with increasing carbonization temperature. The char development can be considered to occur in two steps: elimination of aliphatic compounds at low temperatures, and hydrogen abstraction and aromatic ring condensation at high temperatures.

Structural and chemical modifications of typical South African biomasses during torrefaction

Torrefaction experiments were carried out for three typical South African biomass samples (softwood chips, hardwood chips and sweet sorghum bagasse) to a weight loss of 30 wt.%. During torrefaction, moisture, non-structural carbohydrates and hemicelluloses were reduced, resulting in a structurally modified torrefaction product. There was a reduction in the average crystalline diameter (La) (XRD), an increase in the aromatic fraction and a reduction in aliphatics (substituted and unsubstituted) (CPMAS (13)C NMR). The decrease in the aliphatic components of the lignocellulosic material under the torrefaction conditions also resulted in a slight ordering of the carbon lattice. The degradation of hemicelluloses and non-structural carbohydrates increased the inclusive surface area of sweet sorghum bagasse, while it did not change significantly for the woody biomasses.

Redetermination of the crystal structure of bis(N-methyl-N-phenyldithiocarbamato- κ2S,S’)copper(II), C16H16CuN2S4

C16H16CuN2S4, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 7.6067(2) Å, b = 6.5835(2) Å, c = 18.5042(5) Å, β = 97.2900(10)°, V = 919.2 Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0243, wRref(F2) = 0.0626, T = 200 K.

The bipyridine adducts of N-phenyldithiocarbamato complexes of Zn(II) and Cd(II); synthesis, spectral, thermal decomposition studies and use as precursors for ZnS and CdS nanoparticles

Bipyridine adducts of N-phenyldithiocarbamato complexes, [ML(1)2L(2)] (M=Cd(II), Zn(II); L(1)=N-phenyldithiocarbamate, L(2)=2,2' bipyridine), have been synthesized and characterised. The decomposition of these complexes to metal sulphides has been investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The complexes were used as single-source precursors to synthesize MS (M=Zn, Cd) nanoparticles (NPs) passivated by hexadecyl amine (HDA). The growth of the nanoparticles was carried out at two different temperatures: 180 and 220 °C, and the optical and structural properties of the nanoparticles were studied using UV-Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), transmission emission microscopy (TEM) and powdered X-ray diffraction (p-XRD). Nanoparticles, whose average diameters are 2.90 and 3.54 nm for ZnS, and 8.96 and 9.76 nm for CdS grown at 180 and 220 °C respectively, were obtained.

Synthesis, spectral and thermal studies of pyridyl adducts of Zn(ii) and Cd(ii) dithiocarbamates, and their use as single source precursors for ZnS and CdS nanoparticles

The synthesis and characterization of pyridyl adducts of Zn(ii) and Cd(ii) dtc: precursors to ZnS and CdS nanoparticles are reported.

(2-Ethyl-2-oxazoline-κN)bis(N-ethyl-N-phenyl-dithio-carbamato-κ(2)S,S')cadmium

In the title compound, [Cd(C₉H₁₀NS₂)₂(C₅H₉NO)], the Cd^II atom is five-coordinated in a distorted square-pyramidal geometry by four S atoms from two chelating N-ethyl-N-phenyl dithio­carbamate ligands and one N atom from a 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline ligand. Inter­molecular C—H⋯π inter­actions are observed in the crystal structure.

Laser induced and controlled chemical reaction of carbon monoxide and hydrogen

Bimolecular chemical reaction control of gaseous CO and H(2) at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, without any catalyst, using shaped femtosecond laser pulses is presented. High intensity laser radiation applied to a reaction cell facilitates non-resonant bond breakage and the formation of a range of ions, which can then react to form new products. Stable reaction products are measured after irradiation of a reaction cell, using time of flight mass spectroscopy. Bond formation of C-O, C-C, and C-H bonds is demonstrated as CO(2)(+), C(2)H(2)(+), CH(+), and CH(3)(+) were observed in the time of flight mass spectrum of the product gas, analyzed after irradiation. The formation of CO(2) is shown to be dependent on laser intensity, irradiation time, and on the presence of H(2) in the reaction cell. Using negatively chirped laser pulses more C-O bond formation takes place as compared to more C-C bond formation for unchirped pulses.