Process design to build an environmentally Engineered Coal char plant to manufacture fertilizer, absorbent and pellets

The present technology relates to improved processes for preparing modified lignite by reacting raw lignite with a source of magnesium (Mg2+) ions and a source of calcium (Ca2+) ions, washing the modified lignite (e.g., with water), drying, and pyrolyzing the treated lignite, and to the use of such products for phosphorous remediation.

Through this process, GWU researchers have found that locally abundant raw lignite (RL) may be converted into a chemically and thermally modified lignite (CTL) by reacting (e.g., via a surface deposition treatment) with Mg²⁺ (e.g., using MgSCU, MgO, Mg(OH)2) and Ca²⁺ (e.g., using CaSO4, CaO, Ca(OH)2) followed by pyrolysis (e.g., at 600 °C).  Our researchers' process promotes phosphate removal from a solution due to the formation of precipitates (such as Mg3(PC>4)2, MgHPO4, Cas(PO4)2, and CaHPO ) formed upon reaction of solution phosphate with Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions released from the CTL.

Benefits:

A much cheaper process to remove aqueous phosphates by using widely available lignite .