Two-step process for conditioning sized coal and resulting product

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The coal found to be most desirable for use in the process of this invention is referred to as high volatile agglomerating bituminous coal.
Typically, such coals are designated as A, B, C types, which according to A.
S.
T.
M.
classification contain less than about 70% dry fixed carbon and more than about 30% dry volatile matter.
High volatile coals which can be advantageously employed are widely distributed throughout the United States, e.
g.
, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Mexico, etc.
Reference is made to the publication "Chemistry of Coal Utilization", by Lowry, Chap.
2, (John Wiley and Sons, N.
Y.
, 1945) for a more complete description of the various coal classification systems.
The sized coal employed has a particle size which ranges from about 6 mesh to about 325 mesh, with 12 mesh to 40 mesh being preferred.
Referring now to FIG.
1, it is seen that the two-step process according to the present invention can be incorporated in at least two different industrial applications.
The particular route taken depends of course on the end product desired, i.
e.
, activated carbon, synthesis gas, or a combination of the two.
Where the product sought is activated carbon, coal, preferably bituminous, is crushed and sized using conventional equipment with one or more washing steps in between operations to obtain a particle size range, generally smaller than 6 mesh, suitable for fluidization.
The sized particles are fluidized in a reactor maintained under an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature below the fusion temperature of the coal, preferably at about 600.
degree.
F.
, to initiate volatilization of organic substances in the coal.
The particles are then subjected to a second fluidizing thermal treatment under an inert atmosphere, preferably maintained at about 800.
degree.
F.
, wherein the sized particles are rendered non-agglomerating.
Carbonization is optionally included after thermal treatment and is generally carried out at temperatures exceeding 1000