Solubility of Bituminous Coal in Alcoholic Potash

Abstract

IN the course of some exploratory experiments carried out eighteen months ago when I was a member of the staff of the British Coal Utilisation Research Association, it was observed that appreciable quantities of some bituminous coals were soluble (or dispersible) in alcoholic potash. A Northumberland coal containing 82·6 per cent of carbon and 5.1 per cent of hydrogen (on ash-free basis) was soluble to the extent of 20 per cent. Since its solubility in aqueous potash was quite inappreciable, this coal contained no significant quantity of ulmic material (âhumic acids"), such as is formed when coal is oxidized by air exposure. Moreover, the proportion of coal extracted by alcoholic potash at the boiling temperature was unchanged when the experiment was carried out in the complete absence of air.