Energy Sources, Vol.26, No.6, 541-550, 2004
Coal desulfurization via different methods
Inorganic materials of coal contain a number of inorganic constituents, especially sulfur, which plays an important role in almost all coal utilization systems. Some methods have been applied to coal to remove its inorganic materials from the organic part. Coal before utilization is subjected to some physical, chemical and biological desulfurization methods. However, physical and biological methods are ineffective and time consuming and they can be applied only on the bench scale. Most of the effective coal desulfurization techniques are based on chemical methods. Main desulfurization methods are chemical desulfurization, leaching, extraction, flotation, oxydesulfurization and biodesulfurization. The alkaline desulfurization is more effective in removing the pyritic sulfur from the coal, which is the less abundant form than the organic sulfur.