Bitumen and wax yields from wet-carbonized, hydrolyzed and untreated peats

Abstract

A reed-sedge peat from Northern Minnesota was used to determine the effects of hydrolysis and wet carbonization on the yield and quality of peat waxes extracted with various solvents. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the potential for producing commercial waxes from Minnesota peat and the possibility of combining peat wax and fuel processes. Air-dried peats extracted with five different solvent systems yielded total bitumens of 1.4 to 7.1 wt.% of the dried peat and waxes ranging form 1.1 to 4.7%. Hydrolysis and wet carbonization of peats prior to bitumen extraction resulted in yields which increased by factors of 2–3X. In general, polar solvents gave higher yields than nonpolar solvents, but the wax melting points and acid values were higher with polar solvents. Bitumen extraction reduced the energy values of residual peat solids by 10–15%.