The report gives results of an evaluation of the initial performance of the Reactor Test Unit (RTU) for chemical removal of pyritic sulfur from an Appalachian coal. Operation of the plant-from its checkout and shakedown in September 1977 through January 1978--demonstrated that the RTU could be run continuously in three-shift operation to reduce the coal from 2.4 lb SO2/million Btu to a level of 1.0 lb SO2/million Btu, after rinsing and extraction of generated elemental sulfur. There was no measurable coal oxidation during processing and leach rates in the plant were greatly improved over bench-scale values. The leach solution/coal/oxygen environment was found to be corrosive to the installed stainless steel reactor, necessitating future upgrading to support additional testing. Bench-scale experiments showed that the leach solution can be used as a homogeneous dense-media to efficiently gravity-separate coal prior to processing. Beneficial engineering cost improvements are obtained based on using this approach, resulting in capital cost estimates of s68-69/kW and with s0.44-0.50/million Btu processing costs, including amortization of capital, for input coal costing s0.78-0.81/million Btu. Overall energy efficiency was 93-96%.

"Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory, Office of Energy, Minerals, and Industry." Jan. 1979. Includes bibliographical references. "Contract no. 68-02-1880, program element no. EHB527."

v. 1. Final report -- v. 2. Appendices.