The role of catalyst precursor anions in coal gasification. Fifth quarterly report

Abstract

The aims of the proposed project are to enrich our understanding of the roles of various aqueous soluble catalyst precursor anions on the surface electrical properties of coal and to ascertain the influence of the surface charge on the adsorption, dispersion, and activities of calcium and potassium. These goals will be achieved by impregnating a demineralized North Dakota lignite (PSOC 1482) with calcium or potassium catalyst precursors containing acetate (CH{sub 3}COO{sup {minus}}), chloride (Cl{sup {minus}}), nitrate (NO{sub 3}{sup {minus}}), sulfate (SO{sub 4}{sup 2{minus}}), and carbonate (CO{sub 3}{sup 2{minus}}) anions. Demineralization of the coal has been completed. In the past quarter, the effects of chloride anion on the surface charge properties of the demineralized coal has been studied using calcium or potassium chlorides. Like the compounds investigated previously, increasing anion concentrations produce less negative charge on the coal surface through the interaction of calcium or potassium ions with the surface. To date, Fourier transform infrared studied aimed at an understanding of the interaction between the metal ions (Ca{sup 2+} or {sup K+}) and the coal surface oxygen functionality has not been very informative, most probably due to the high infrared absorption by coal. For this reason, we have procured a resin, Amberlite IRC-50, with carboxylic surface functionality (RCOOH, from Rohm and Haas Company) to be used for metal ion adsorption and the FTIR studies. We hope the similarity between the surface functionality on this resin and coal will provide insight on the mechanism of metal uptake by coal.