Ames process

Abstract: The validity of the Ames claim of up to 40% removal of organic sulfur from coal was assessed by subjecting model compounds to the Ames Process which utilizes 02 M aqueous Na/sub 2/CO/sub 3/ at 150/sup 0/C under pressure of 300 psi O/sub 2/ for one hour This type of oxydesulfurization has been described as a two step process involving initial oxidation at sulfur to produce sulfoxides and sulfones This step is then thought to be followed by the thermal and, in the Ames Process, base assisted extrusion of SO/sub x/ In this concept, the initial oxidation at sulfur facilitates desulfurization by polarizing and weakening the carbon to sulfur bond The conclusions concerning the oxydesulfurization process are: (1) thiophenols and disulfides are the only groups oxidized at sulfur; (2) sulfides, including thiophenes, are not oxidized at sulfur; (3) reactive sulfides are oxidized at reactive carbon-hydrogen bonds; (4) reactive carbon-hydrogen bonds in functions not containing sulfur also react; (5) the Ames Process is directly analogous to hydrocarbon autoxidation; and (6) more efficient sulfur removal without severe degradation of the coal is not possible under the present process conditions The success which these model compound studies have had in defining the limitsmore » of the efficacy of the Ames oxydesulfurization process encourage one to believe that this approach will be quite valuable in the evaluation of other proposed chemical coal cleaning techniques« less