Integrated, Non-Catalytic Process for the Production of High Value Chemicals from Low Rank Coal by Oxidative Hydrothermal Dissolution (OHD)
I would like to clarify recent incorrect and misinformation about OHD presses commented in here as Mineral processing expert with academic and industrial expert.
I am chemical and metallurgical engineer with relevant academic degrees and currently working as mineral processing engineer as the head of technical solution manager of a leading mine processing machines manufacturer worldwide company. I have 30 years of experience chemical & mineral processing fields.
As you all know, well knowing certain person, publishing incorrect and misleading information via HotCopper, his comments considers being incorrect and misleading and dishonest by technical experts. It is obvious, this person is not competent person in Chemical and Process Engineering.
His misleading comments morally, legally and technically unacceptable, because they are not based on facts.
Direct and indirect ways telling lies and undermine OHD technology, attacking GPP’s assets without technical facts and data have only one objective that undermines GPP and its share holders. He is acting like Trojan Horse.
GPP:
It is obvious that GPP has most valuable assets and technology.
All GPP projects are prepared in a systematic, coordinated manner to ensure a functional, dependable and attractive commercially.
OHD is the Best Clean Coal Technologies in the World:
GPP has successful OHD process testing, this result is globally significant achievement.
OHD project is based on futuristic technology, environmentally friendly and commercially cost effective proven process.
OHD process has achieved the following prove technology steps.
Testing & Clarify
OHD process & technology test and trial results universally accepted. This OHD proven process will be converting quickly in the most efficient and economical manner possible.
Technology Approach
Further test will be only for commercialisation and scaling up of the production facilities. Construct a plant will be easy part of this technology. The OHD process meets all technological and commercialisation criteria.
Actual Design
OHD processing plant will be a unique; it is clean, futuristic and profitable. OHD processes have already achieved its targets in the specific market.
Build Processing Plant
Develop the complete and fully functional technology and processing plant that best serves that market
Technology Improvement
Continues improvement of the functionality of OHD process achieves grows through economical maintenance contracts. Enhance processing plant's design and functionality based on actual data and technology enhancements
Further Development:
The design of distillation units is geared to deliver an improved product quality, increased capacity and reduced energy consumption.
Design activities are supported by computer simulations and in-house pilot plant testing. Monash University’s vast experience and know-how in the field of distillation combined with a profound understanding of column hardware ensures the optimum solution to future clients.
Summary:
OHD is non-gasification, commercially feasible and environmentally friendly process to convert macromolecular organic solids into low molecular weight chemicals. Industrial organic-containing “waste” streams (e.g. black liquor) Oil sands remediation Biomass (forest and agricultural wastes).
What is Oxidative Hydrothermal Dissolution (OHD)?
OHD is a novel, continuous, hydrothermal process to convert macromolecular organic solids into low molecular weight chemicals, using only elevated temperature (200-370
oC), high pressure, liquid water (subcritical) and molecular oxygen.
OHD Process is Environmentally Friendly
Uses only water and oxygen. Requires no exotic solvents, enzymes or catalysts, nor pre-treatment of the feed. Moisture content of the feed is irrelevant –great for lignites.
Typical reaction times (pulverized feed) are of the order of a few 10s of seconds. Readily achieves very high conversion of the solid.
High recovery (typically 75-90+ %) of the products as solubilised, low molecular weight chemicals.
Technology Status:
(i) Laboratory Scale proof-of-concept –Complete
(ii) Semi-continuous and continuous reactor systems
(iii) Regularly used for “quick” runs and establishing initial process parameters.
(iv) Process Development Unit (PDU) Fully operational, small engineering scale up to 5 kg/hour capacity
(feedstock in 10 % -20 % aqueous slurry) used in process refinement and economics.
(v) Innovative downstream product recovery strategy developed and tested.
Introduction Coal Conversion via OHD:
Coal is a macromolecular organic solid. Its structural characteristics vary with rank and maceral composition, but it can be generally described as consisting of aromatic clusters (consisting of variable numbers of aromatic rings) linked together with aliphatic and ether bridges, within which is occluded variable amounts of low
MW materials.
In most cases coal also includes variable amounts of inorganic materials present as either discrete mineral phases or exchanged cations. Because of its nature it cannot easily be refined and is primarily used as a solid fuel for energy production.
The value of coal as a resource could be considerably increased if methods to disrupt its macromolecular structure could be developed. Various strategies, including: pyrolysis, gasification and direct liquefaction, have been attempted with the goal of breaking up the macromolecular structure of coal to produce low
MW products that can be refined into various types of higher value products, including liquid fuels and chemicals.
Oxidative Hydrothermal Dissolution (OHD) is a novel, and highly effective, approach to achieving this goal. OHD works by reaction of the coal, or other macromolecular organic solid, with small amounts of O
2, in liquid water at elevated temperatures and pressures.
This results in oxidative cleavage of reactive structures in the coal, producing a suite of low MW organic products that are soluble in water. Conversion is readily taken to completion in reasonable reaction times with 70-90% recovery of the original carbon as water soluble products that can be refined into a variety of useful low MW products.
Application of this process to a wide range of coal, biomass, and similar macromolecular organic solids (including various types of lignocellulosic biomass, lignite, bituminous coal, anthracite and wood charcoal) has been evaluated.
In all cases, complete conversion of organic materials to soluble products is readily achieved, although rates of reaction vary considerably. Petrographic analyses demonstrate that dissolution proceeds by etching of particle surface,
Reaction rate is dependent on particle size, reaction temperature, oxidant loading and flow rate/contact time, as well as varying with initial substrate, but is typically of the order of minutes for complete dissolution for -20 +60-mesh bituminous coal.
In general, low rank materials react faster than high rank materials, (presumably due to the more poly-condensed nature of the high rank materials), and macerals react in order to;
Liptinite>Vitrinite> Inertinite
These data suggest that the process works by oxidative cleavage of labile structures, resulting in disruption of the overall macromolecular structure. As low
MW products are produced they dissolve into the reaction medium (water), which at hydrothermal conditions is an excellent solvent for most organics, and are separated from residual solid, thereby exposing fresh surface for subsequent reaction with additional oxidant.
Rapid removal of the water and separation of the produced organic solute or quenching prevents over-oxidation of the dissolved product. For most raw solids, 70-90% of the initial carbon is recovered as solubilised products at optimal reaction conditions.
Minor amounts of gaseous products
(CO and CO2) are also generated, with
CO typically dominating. No gaseous N or
S oxides are generated. Inorganic N and S are retained in the aqueous phase as sulphate and nitrate respectively.
Organic
S is at least partially retained as soluble organosulfur compounds in the product liquor. Characterization of the solubilised products indicates that these consist of moderately complex mixtures of low
MW organics, predominantly consisting of:
(i) Aliphatic carboxylic acids and diacids from
C1 to ~ C20 (in many cases acetic acid is the single most abundant product obtained and may account for up to 5~% of the raw product, depending on the initial feedstock)
(ii) Mono aromatic carboxylic acids, polyacids and phenols, including methoxylated analogues. The exact distribution of products obtained is dependent on the nature of the starting material used. For humic coals, lignites tend to give products dominated by simple aliphatic acids and diacids and monocarboxylic aromatic acids/phenols. OHD products derived from higher rank coals are generally dominated by aromatic products including di- and poly- carboxylic acids and related analogues. Mass spectrometric and chromatographic analyses both indicate that high (>~500 amu)
MW products are absent in freshly prepared OHD products.
(iii) If allowed to stand for extended periods, some precipitation does occur, presumably due to oxidative coupling (e.g. phenolic coupling) of the primary products. Raw liquor is also subject to growth of biomass if not kept completely sterile. Silicate minerals are generally unaffected by
OHD conditions and are retained unaltered in the reaction residue. Pyrite undergoes rapid oxidation (analogous to pyrite weathering related to acid mine drainage) with S released as aqueous sulphate and Fe re-precipitated as a mixed
Fe (O) (OH) phase functionally equivalent to Goethite.
Most inorganic elements are retained in the solid phases with which they are initially associated in the raw coal and the remainder is retained in the aqueous phase with the solubilised organic product.
Oxidative Hydrothermal Dissolution (OHD) is a New Coal Conversion Technology:
This process is an entirely novel approach to convert coal directly into chemicals using only water and oxygen. The process does not go through the usual gasification (syngas) route or use expensive or proprietary solvents or catalysts. It is somewhat analogous to accelerated weathering.
OHD works by reaction of the coal with small amounts of oxygen in high temperature, high pressure, and liquid water. This breaks up the coal’s structure, resulting in the generation of low molecular weight, water soluble products.
Petrographic analysis reveals etched particle surfaces and pitted edges. Complete conversion of the coal is readily achievable with 70-90% recovery of the original carbon as water soluble products. Most silicate minerals present in the coal pass through the process essentially unaltered.
Raw OHD product is an aqueous solution (not a colloid or suspension) consisting of a mixture of low molecular weight aromatic and aliphatic acids and related derivatives that could potentially supplement or replace some petroleum–derived products as chemical feed stocks.
Raw OHD product can be pumped and refined using conventional liquid processing technology. Since the process uses only water and oxygen, it is inherently environmentally friendly.
It produces little CO2, and no NOx or SOx or other toxic emissions. Harmful elements like mercury, arsenic etc., are not released to the environment but either remains associated with their parent minerals or are retained in the product solution and can be processed and captured by conventional waste water treatment strategies.
Conclusions:
Oxidative Hydrothermal Dissolution is a novel conversion strategy for the efficient conversion of coal and other macromolecular solid organic materials to low MW water soluble organic products by reaction with small amounts of molecular oxygen in subcritical (liquid) water at temperatures of ~ 200-370
oC .
The process is simple and does not require use of exotic catalysts or solvents other than water. Complete dissolution of the initial coal or other macromolecular organic solid with recovery of 70-90% of the initial carbon as dissolved products is readily achievable in most cases. The process is robust and widely applicable to a broad range of substrates.
I would like to share my technical opinion and experiences with you based on facts and data in the future regarding GPP`s projects, particularly OHD and Lithium projects.
"I am not a financial adviser so please DYOR"
