US4388171A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Supercritical multicomponent solvent coal extraction
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-10-30
•
Granted: 1983-06-14
•
Expires: 2001-10-30
Abstract
Abstract The yield of organic extract from the supercritical extraction of coal with larger diameter organic solvents such as toluene is increased by use of a minor amount of from 0.1 to 10% by weight of a second solvent such as methanol having a molecular diameter significantly smaller than the average pore diameter of the coal.
Inventors
- 👤 with respect to an invention of Beggs James M. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- 👤 William H. Corcoran
- 👤 William S. Fong
- 👤 Puvin Pichaichanarong
- 👤 Paul C. F. Chan
- 👤 Daniel D. Lawson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:39
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D11/00; B01D11/02; B01D11/0203; C; C10; C10G; C10G1/00; C10G1/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S208/00; Y10S208/952
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of separating an organic extract from coal comprising the steps of: adding particulate coal and a mixture consisting essentially of a first solvent and a second solvent; said first solvent being present in the solvent mixture in an amount from 0.1 to 20% by weight and having a molecular diameter at least 50% smaller than the average pore diameter of the coal and said second solvent having a larger molecular diameter than the first solvent and being an efficient coal-extracting solvent; heating the reactor to a temperature above the critical temperature for the solvent mixture but below 450° C. at a pressure of 500 to 10,000 psig to supercritical fluid form; extracting organic coal components into the supercritical fluid phase; and removing said phase from the reactor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of separating an organic extract from coal comprising the steps of: adding particulate coal and a mixture consisting essentially of a first solvent and a second solvent; said first solvent being present in the solvent mixture in an amount from 0.1 to 20% by weight and having a molecular diameter at least 50% smaller than the average pore diameter of the coal and said second solvent having a larger molecular diameter than the first solvent and being an efficient coal-extracting solvent; heating the reactor to a temperature above the critical temperature for the solvent mixture but below 450° C. at a pressure of 500 to 10,000 psig to supercritical fluid form; extracting organic coal components into the supercritical fluid phase; and removing said phase from the reactor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the first solvent is present in the mixture in an amount less than 5% by weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 2 in which the average pore diameter of the coal is from 5 to 100 Angstroms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 3 in which the average pore diameter is from 10 to 40 Angstroms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 2 in which the second solvent has a molecular diameter smaller than the pore diameter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 5 in which one of said solvents is polar and the other non-polar.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the first solvent is selected from lower-molecular-weight alcohols or ketones.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 7 in which the second solvent is an aromatic compound containing 1 to 3 rings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 8 in which the second solvent is toluene.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 9 in which the first solvent is methanol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 10 in which no more than 5% by weight of methanol is present.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 which the extraction temperature is from 200° C. to 400° C. and the pressure is from 1000 to 5000 psig.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the coal is bituminous.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 13 in which the coal is present in an amount of 5 to 35% by weight with respect to solvent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3929193A
Cited
US3970541A
Cited
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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) | 1986-06-13 | 1986-12-13 | 1987-06-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-13 | 1990-12-13 | 1991-06-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-13 | 1994-12-13 | 1995-06-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |