Chemicals from Coal

Abstract

Only those persons very well versed in methods of technological change realize how short the time is that remains before the world must make a major shift from oil to coal for its industrial energy needs. The return to coal must provide for clean combustion and conversion to clean industrial fuels. The quickest way to capture significant supplies of new gas and oil is to convert existing boilers and furnaces to burn clean fuels from coal. The following processes that could be realized the soonest are discussed: gasification with steam and oxygen; partial conversion of coal; flash pyrolysis; partial gasification by steam; flash hydrogenation; supercritical gas extraction; chemicals from coal tar; and coal liquefaction. Work has been in progress for many years on rapid pyrolysis of coal in a plasma arc at temperatures beyond 1400/sup 0/C to make acetylene. It is believed the process has the potential of making acetylene competitive with ethylene, but acetylene can only substitute for ethylene in about 17 percent of its uses. 47 references. (MCW)