Desulphurization of Kütahya/Gediz lignite using H2O2/H2SO4 solutions and optimization of leaching parameters by Taguchi's method

İngilizce (OpenAlex)

Direct combustion of coal produces high amount of SOx compounds and it has many negative environmental impacts. Hence, desulphurization process of coal has very important role for environmental perspective. The present work investigated optimization of leaching parameters for the desulfurization of Kütahya/Gediz lignite using the Taguchi method which contains high amount of sulfur (7.24%) by H2O2/H2SO4 acidic media. Reaction temperature, reaction time, stirring speed, particle size, and concentrations of H2O2 and H2SO4 were selected as leaching parameters. The design matrix of 37 experiments was prepared to perform analysis of variance (ANOVA) during the desulphurization experimental period. Taguchi’s optimization results show that, temperature was found to be the most effective, while time was the least effective parameter for optimum sulfur removal from Gediz coal. The optimum operating conditions for desulphurization process were found as 90°C leaching temperature, 500 rpm stirring speed, 210 min leaching time, 0.110 µm particle size, 5 M H2O2 concentration and 6 M H2SO4 concentration. Under these optimum conditions, the maximum removal yield was 68.61% for total sulfur, 96.48% for pyritic sulfur, 17.12% for organic sulfur and 11.54% for ash content.