US4121995A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surfactant-assisted liquefaction of particulate carbonaceous substances
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1976-10-07
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Granted: 1978-10-24
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Expires: 1996-10-07
Abstract
Abstract A slurry of carbonaceous particles such as coal containing an oil soluble polar substituted oleophilic surfactant, suitably an amine substituted long chain hydrocarbon, is liquefied at high temperature and high hydrogen presence. The pressure of surfactant results in an increase in yield and the conversion product contains a higher proportion of light and heavy oils and less asphaltene than products from other liquefaction processes.
Inventors
- 👤 George C. Hsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:12
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G1/00; C10G1/04; C10G1/006; C10G1/06; C10G1/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
In a method of liquefying a particulate, carbonaceous substance at high temperature and under hydrogen pressure in organic liquid reaction media to form a polar, partially hydrogenated asphaltene intermediate, the improvement comprising: forming a suspension containing 5% to 50% by weight of the particulate substance suspended in organic liquid reaction media consisting essentially of a non-polar, organic solvent for the liquefied, asphaltene conversion products and 0.1% to 10% based on the substance of an oil soluble, organic surfactant having a molecular weight from 300 to 5,000 and containing from 1 to 15% by weight of a polar group; heating the suspension to a temperature above 300° C.; pressurizing the suspension with hydrogen at a pressure of at least 500 psi; and converting the particles to a liquid oil product.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
In a method of liquefying a particulate, carbonaceous substance at high temperature and under hydrogen pressure in organic liquid reaction media to form a polar, partially hydrogenated asphaltene intermediate, the improvement comprising: forming a suspension containing 5% to 50% by weight of the particulate substance suspended in organic liquid reaction media consisting essentially of a non-polar, organic solvent for the liquefied, asphaltene conversion products and 0.1% to 10% based on the substance of an oil soluble, organic surfactant having a molecular weight from 300 to 5,000 and containing from 1 to 15% by weight of a polar group; heating the suspension to a temperature above 300° C.; pressurizing the suspension with hydrogen at a pressure of at least 500 psi; and converting the particles to a liquid oil product.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the substance is coal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 2 in which the coal particles are from 60 to 325 mesh.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 3 in which the coal is lignite.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 2 in which the liquid media is an anthracene oil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 3 in which the ratio of coal to liquid media is from 10% to 35%, the temperature is from 325° C. to 500° C., the hydrogen pressure is from 2000 to 4000 psi and the surfactant is present in an amount from 0.5% to 5% by weight.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 6 in which the surfactant has a long hydrocarbon chain portion to which is attached said amount of at least one polar group.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the polar group is selected from amine, hydroxyl, carboxyl, sulfonic, phosphonic or thiophosphate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 8 in which the surfactant is a long chain hydrocarbon amine having a molecular weight from 2,000 to 3,000 and a nitrogen content of from 1.5% to 3.5% by weight.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 9 in which the surfactant additionally contains from 0.5 to 3% oxygen by weight as hydroxyl groups.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 2 further including the steps of separating the liquid oil product from the suspension.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 11 further including the step of separation the liquid media and surfactant from the liquid oil product and recycling them to the suspension.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
A composition of matter as a feed for a coal liquefaction reactor comprising a slurry of coal particles containing 5 to 50% by weight of coal suspended in organic liquid media consisting essentially of a non-polar, organic solvent for liquefied, polar partially hydrogenated asphaltene and 0.1% to 10% based on the coal of an oil-soluble surfactant consisting of a long hydrocarbon chain organic amine having a molecular weight from 300 to 5,000 and containing from 1.5% to 3.5% by weight of nitrogen and 0.5 to 3% oxygen by weight as hydroxyl groups.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
A composition of matter as a feed for a coal liquefaction reactor comprising a slurry of coal particles containing 5 to 50% by weight of coal suspended in organic liquid media consisting essentially of a non-polar, organic solvent for liquefied, polar partially hydrogenated asphaltene and 0.1% to 10% based on the coal of an oil-soluble surfactant consisting of a long hydrocarbon chain organic amine having a molecular weight from 300 to 5,000 and containing from 1.5% to 3.5% by weight of nitrogen and 0.5 to 3% oxygen by weight as hydroxyl groups.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
A composition according to claim 13 in which the solvent is anthracene oil.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-10-23 | 1982-04-24 | 1982-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-10-23 | 1986-04-24 | 1986-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-10-23 | 1990-04-24 | 1990-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |