Chapter 5: Coal Chemicals

Coal is heated to a very high temperature in the absence of air to

separate out various components. Unlike ordinary distillation, the
distillation of coal actually destroys the coal so that the process is
named 'the destructive distillation of coal'.
Coal is a complex mixture of compounds that are made up of mainly
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen; with impurities of nitrogen, sulphur
and phosphorus.
Destructive Distillation of Coal
The products formed by the destructive distillation of coal are
categorized into two: Volatile components and Non-volatile
components.
The volatile products are coal gas, coal tar and ammoniacal liquor.
While the non-volatile product is called coke.
Step by step decomposition of the pyrolysis of coal:
As the temperature is raised, the aliphatic carbon-carbon bonds
break first. Reaction begins below 200 C.
Carbon-hydrogen linkages break next or near 600 C.
The elimination of heterocycle complexes and progressive
aromatization are the essential reactions taking place during the
decomposition as the carbonization proceeds.
The molecular weights of the intermediate products regularly
decrease as the temperature rises. Water, carbon monoxide,
hydrogen, methane and other hydrocarbons are evolved.
Decomposition is at maximum between 600 and 800 C. All the above
reactions vary markedly in their extent depending on the rate of
heating as well as the temperature attained.
The Destructive Distillation of Coal is simplified as follows:
Coal Coke + Ammoniacal Liquor + Coal Tar + Coal Gas

 Coke is the residue left after the distillation of the volatile

constituents. It is used directly as fuel or raw material for other fuels.
Although coal tar and ammoniacal liquor are initially volatile
components, they soon condense so that the ammoniacal liquor
becomes an aqueous liquid, and the coal tars an almost black tar.
The ammoniacal liquor is merely an ammonia solution, which is used
as fertilizer.
Coal tar can be made to undergo further fractional distillation since it
is a mixture of over two hundred substances. Some of the substances
that distillates are naphthalene, benzene, toluene and phenol.
Coal gas is regarded as the unique volatile component as it is the
only gaseous product of the destructive distillation of coal. Although
coal gas contains small amount of other gases like ethene and
hydrogen sulphide.
Coal Gas usually contains about 10% carbon(II) oxide (carbon
monoxide), 30% methane and 50% hydrogen.
Coal gas is a potent fuel by virtue of its gaseous components that
evidently support combustion. It is also a clean and more efficient fuel
than other solid fuels like coal.
Coking of Coal
Coking coal is converted to coke by driving off impurities to leave
almost pure carbon.
The physical properties of coking coal cause the coal to soften,
liquefy and then resolidify into hard but porous lumps when heated in
the absence of air. Almost all metallurgical coal is used in coke ovens.
Coking Process
Preparation of Raw Materials
Coal is transferred, crushed and screened before the coking process.

 Charging
The prepared coal is then charged into the larry car then to a hot,
empty oven using a leveling conveyor.
Pyrolysis
Coal is chemically transformed to coke and volatiles by pyrolysis.
The average temperature at the center of the charge is 980 C, the
average temperature of the walls of the oven is 1100 C and the
avergae temperature of the flue is about 1290 C.
This process would take about 36-48 hours.
Pushing

Hot coke is pushed out of the oven using a pusher charge

machine.

Transporting

Using a hot car, the hot coke is then transported to the

Quenching Towers.

Quenching

The coke is quenched with water, thus cooling it and preventing

it from catching fire. This process is done in the Quenching Tower.

Storing

The coke is then deposited in to the wherf for storage or

delivered to other plant specifically in the iron/steel manufacturing
industry.

 By Product Disposals
Condensable products of distillation are liquified and collected in the
hydraulic main
Foul gas is cool and tar extracted
Ammonia is removed from gas as ammonium sulfate
Gas is cooled and subjected to benzene and toluene removal by
absorption in straw oil
Hydrogen sulfide is removed
Purified gas is metered and transferred to consumers
Distillation of Coal Tar
Coal Tar is a mixture of many chemical compounds mostly aromatic,
which vary widely in composition. It is a by-product of the destructive
distillation or pyrolysis of coal. Coal tar accounts for around 3.5-4% of
coke produced.
Coal tar pitch is a complex chemical with 22 chemical and physical
properties obtained through coal tar distillation, which involves the
conversion of coal tar into a variety of intermediate chemical
products.

Products of Distillation
Light oils ususally comprise the cut up to 200 C. They are first
crudely fractionated and agitated at a low temperature with
concentrated sulfuric acid, neutralized with caustic soda, and
redistilled, furnishing benzene, toluene and homologs.

 Middle oils or creosote oils, generally are fraction from 200 to 250 C,
which contain naphthalene, phenol and creosols. The naphthalene
settles out on cooling, is seperated by centrifuging and is purified by
sublimation.

After the removal of naphthalene, phenol and other tar acids are
obtained by extraction with 10 % caustic soda solution and
neutralization.
Heavy oil may represent the fraction from 250 300 C, or it may be
split between the middle oil and the anthracene oil.
Anthracene oil is usually the fraction from 300-350 C. It is washed
with various solvents to remove phenanthrene and carbazole; the
remaining solid in anthracene.

Prepared by:
Janusz Jerard B. Ulpindo and Jan Ram San Pascual
BS ChE III - 1
Multiple Choice. Choose the best answer to each question.
1) What is the temperature when the aliphatic carbon-carbon bonds break?
a) 400 C
b) 450 C
c) 200 C
d) 250 C
2) The first recorded production of coke in an oven is during?
a) 1620
b) 1625
c) 1720
d) 1725
3) It is an obsolete and primitive type of coking method)
a) Petroleum Recovery
b) Beehive Coking c) By-Product

d) Distillation

4) The first experiment involving the production of gas from coke is by?
a) William Hanniganb) William Murdock c) William Tribianni d) William Gellar
5) Which does not belong to the group?
a) Light Oil b) dark oil
c) Coal Gas d) Coal Tar
6) Decomposition is at ___________ between 600 and 800 C
a) Intermediate
b) Minimum c) Maximum
d) Moderation
7) What is the other term for destructive distillation of coal?
a) Combustion
b) Demethylation c) Sulfonation

d) Carbonization

8) What is one of the most elaborate and costly of masonry structures)

a) By product Coke Oven b) Furnace c) Beehive Coke Oven d) Brick walled Oven
9) Which of the following is not true to produce 700 kg of coke)
a) Lime, 0)75-1 kg b) Water, up to 8000 L c) Electricity, 25 J d) Coal ,1 ton
10)_________ is heated to a very high temperature in the absence of air to separate
out various components
a) Petrochemicals b) Coal
c) Gasoline d) Kerosene
11) Which is not an impurity in coal?
a) Sulfur
b) Phosphorous
c) Nitrogen

d) Oxygen

12)The classification of the products of coal are based on there ______

a) Solubility b) Malleability
c) Volatility
d) Chemical Components

13)Coking coal is converted to coke by driving off impurities to leave almost

____________
a) Pure Carbon
b) Semi pure carbon
c) Pure ash d) Semi pure ash
14)The average temperature at the center of the charge is?
a) 980 C
b) 900 C
c) 990 C
d) 910 C
15)The coke is quenched with ___________, thus cooling it
a) Acetylene
b) Hydrogen
c) Carbon Dioxide d) Water
16)Condensable products of distillation are _________ and _________ in the
hydraulic main
a) liquefied ; disposed
b) liquefied ; transported
c) removed ; disposed
d) disposed ; transported
17)The average temperature of the walls of the oven is ?
a) 1000 C b) 1200 C
c) 1100 C
d) 1010 C
18)What is the usual fraction recovered at 300-350 C?
a) Heavy Oil b) Middle Oil c) Anthracene Oil d) Light Oils
19)What is the usual fraction that are crudely fractionated and agitated at a low
temperature with concentrated sulfuric acid?
a) Heavy Oil b) Middle Oil c) Anthracene Oil d) Light Oils
20)What is the usual fraction recovered at 250-300 C?
a) Heavy Oil b) Middle Oil c) Anthracene Oil d) Light Oils
21)What is the usual fraction which contain naphthalene, phenol and creosols)?
a) Heavy Oil b) Middle Oil c) Anthracene Oil d) Light Oils
22)____________ is a complex chemical with 22 chemical and physical properties
obtained through coal tar distillation)
a) Coke
b) Coal Tar c) Pitch
d) Ammoniacal Liquor
23)What is a mixture of many chemical compounds mostly aromatic, which vary
widely in composition?
a) Coke
b) Coal Tar c) Pitch
d) Ammoniacal Liquor
24)What is the form of Ammonia as it leaves the gas in the by product disposal
a) Ammonia Gas b) Ammonium Sulfate c) Ammonium Sulfite d) Ammonium Nitrate
25)What is the avergae temperature of the flue is about

a) 1290 C

b) 1280 C

c) 1270 C

d) 1295 C

26)This process would take about?

a) 25 hours b) 30 hours c) 35 hours d) 40 hours
27)Which does not belong to the group
a) Coal Tar b) Coal Gas c) Coke
d) Ammoniacal Liquor
28)Why is it called destructive distillation of coal?
a) It leaves fractions of oil
b) It is named after its discoverer
c) It destroys coal
d) None of the above
29)What is/are the essential reaction/s taking place during the decomposition as the
carbonization proceeds?
a) Elimination of Heterocycle complexes
b) Progressive Aromatization
c) Both a and b
d) None of these
30)Which of the following evolves from the pyrolysis of coal?
a) Carbon Monoxide
b) Hydrogen c) Carbon Dioxide d) Carbon Black
31)Pitch accounts for how many percent of Coal Tar?
a) 60 %
b) 55 %
c) 57 %
d) 62 %
32)Phenol and other tar acids are obtained by extraction with?
a) 10 % HCl b) 10 % NaOH
c) 15 % HCl
d) 15 % NaOH
33)The products other than coke is termed as
a) Coal By Products b) Coal Chemicals c) both a and b

d) None of these

34)Benzene, toluene and homologs are furnished from?

a) Heavy Oil b) Middle Oil c) Anthracene Oil d) Light Oils
35)Which compound is removed from the Coke Chemicals?
a) H2SO4
b) C6H6
c) NaOH
d) H2S
36)Another way to produce or make coke is from?
a) Sugar
b) Oils and Waxes c) Petroleum d) Industrial Gases
37)Which of the following is not present in Coal Gas?
a) CO
b) CH4
c) Hydrogen
d) NH3

38)______________ can be made to undergo further fractional distillation since it is

a mixture of over two hundred substances
a) Coal Gas b) Coal Tar c) Pitch
d) Coke
39)What is the main use of the Ammoniacal Liquor after the destructive distillation of
coal?
a) Food Additive b) Fragrance c) Agricultural Chemical d) Solvent for extraction
40)Carbon-hydrogen linkages break next or near what temperature?
a) 600 C
b) 610 C
c) 620 C
d) 630 C
41)The physical properties of coking coal cause the coal to
a. Soften the coal
b. Liquefaction of the Coal happens
c. The Coal resolidifies into a hard porous lump
d. All of the above
42)The crushed coal is first placed into a ______ before placing it in the oven
a) Quenching Towers
b) Larry Car
c) Furnace d) Condenser
43)The removal of benzene and toluene from the recovered gas is by
a) Absorption in Straw Oil b) Absorption in Heavy Oils
c) Adsorption in Straw
Oil
d) Adsorption in Heavy Oils
44)Middle oils usually contain the following except
a) Phenols b) Creosols c) Benzene c) Naphthalene
45)Naphthalene is separated from the other distillation products by
a) Sedimentation b) Centrifugation
c) Drying
d) Extraction
46)Which is more commonly used in todays method of distillation of Coal Tar
a) Batch Still b) Continuous Still c) Both a and b
d) Neither a or b
47)Coal tar accounts for how many percent of coke produced?
a) 3-5 %
b) 3)5-5 % c) 3)5-4%
d) 3-4 %
48)Hydrogen is present in Coal gas, and it accounts for _____ %?
a) 50
b) 60
c) 55
d) 65
49)Carbon Monoxide is present in Coal gas, and it accounts for _____ %?
a) 5
b) 15
c) 10
d) 20
50)Which of the following is not done before the coking process?
a) Coal is transferred b) Coal is Pre-Heated c) Coal is Screened d) Coal is Crushed

Chapter 5 Answer Keys

1) C
2) A
3) B
4) B
5) B
6) C
7) D
8) A
9) C
10)B
11) D
12)C
13)A
14)A
15)D
16)B
17)C
18)C
19)D
20)A
21)B
22)C
23)B
24)B
25)A
26)D

27)C
28)C
29)C
30)A
31)D
32)B
33)C
34)D
35)D
36)C
37)D
38)B
39)C
40)A
41)D
42)B
43)C
44)C
45)B
46)B
47)C
48)A
49)C
50)B
51)

52)