Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Alberta and Canada in general have huge coal reserves and diversification of its utilization towards non-fuel use is quite important. Apart from the use of coal as a conventional fuel, coal can be converted to several valuable liquid and solid products through solvent extraction: ultra clean coal (ash free coal) and coal pitch. Coal pitch is a good source of mineral free carbon material that has the required properties for use as a precursor to anode coke. The use of industrial by-products such as coal and petroleum-derived oils to replace the expensive commercial solvents requires further research. The objective of this project therefore is to develop a fundamental understanding of mechanisms involved in the transformation of coal to pitch, as well as the transformation of the pitch to coke. This work will be conducted in such a way that it contributes to the development of coal-based technology by our industrial partner, Sherritt Technologies, and support their commercialization goals. The main areas of investigation will include:i) fundamental understanding of coal digestion chemistry and kinetics using advanced analytical characterization techniques for coal, coal derived liquids, pitch and green coke and ii) Looking into non-traditional solvents for coal liquefaction as well as oxidative desulphurization and denitrogenation of coal. This may eliminate the high pressure hydrogenation step if hydrogen can be donated directly by non-traditional hydrogen-rich solvents. The outcome of this project will help in adding value to coal by transforming it to ash free carbon source for carbon electrodes and other applications. It will widen the scope of non-fuel coal utilization, with focus being on Canadian coals.The project would result in the development and training of highly qualified personnel for the future of Canadian Advanced Technology and would keep Canada in the forefront of advanced materials production technologies.