Characterization of eluted metal components from coal during pretreatment and solvent extraction

Eluted metals from Enshu (a Chinese) and Stratford (an Australian) coal during pretreatments with methanol/water and dilute acetic acid solutions were characterized and quantitatively analyzed by solid-state 23Na NMR, cation chromatography, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) measurements. To achieve the requirements of solvent extracted coal (namely Hyper-Coal: HPC) for its direct utilization to gas turbine system, alkali and alkali-earth metals such as Na, K, and Ca should be removed from coals. A quantitative analytical method of alkali metals with ICP-AES in combination with flow injection system is established for the evaluation of remaining alkali metal contents, especially for the quantitative analysis of Na concentration in the original coal and its HPC. Microwave irradiation acidic digestion pretreatment under controlled high pressure and temperature is very essential to the prompt and quantitative analyses of all the metals in coals and their derived HPC. Combination of ICP-AES with XRF and/or cation chromatography is also effective for the respective analyses of the residue and the extract or filtrate. Solid-state 23Na NMR spectra of the coals before and after solvent soaking pretreatment or acetic acid treatment revealed that ion-exchangeable Na species might be rather selectively eluted by these treatments. It is also suggested that the remaining Na species could not be removed by dilute acetic acid solutions.