US 11,958,056 B2
Upgraded coal
Alexander Azenkeng, Grand Forks, ND (US); and Jason Laumb, Grand Forks, ND (US)
Assigned to Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation, Grand Forks, ND (US)
Filed by Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation, Grand Forks, ND (US)
Filed on Aug. 25, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/445,870.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/706,620, filed on Aug. 28, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0062917 A1, Mar. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. B03B 9/00 (2006.01); B03B 7/00 (2006.01); B82Y 20/00 (2011.01); B82Y 40/00 (2011.01); C01B 32/184 (2017.01); C01B 32/194 (2017.01); C09K 11/65 (2006.01)
CPC B03B 9/005 (2013.01) [B03B 7/00 (2013.01); C01B 32/184 (2017.08); C01B 32/194 (2017.08); C09K 11/65 (2013.01); B82Y 20/00 (2013.01); B82Y 40/00 (2013.01); C01B 2204/02 (2013.01); C01B 2204/22 (2013.01); C01P 2004/64 (2013.01); C01P 2006/40 (2013.01); C01P 2006/60 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of upgrading coal, the method comprising:
cleaning coal to form a cleaned coal residue; and
at least one of
reacting the cleaned coal residue with an oxidizable inorganic metallic agent, and
reacting the cleaned coal residue with a reducing agent,
to form the upgraded coal, wherein the upgraded coal has a lower oxygen concentration as compared to the naturally-sourced coal used to form the upgraded coal.