(248s) Ohio Coal Pyrolysis for Generation of Asphalt-like Materials

The Ohio Coal Research Center (OCRC) of the Ohio University (OHIO) is developing a novel transport reactor-based pyrolysis process to produce a variety of sustainable highway infrastructure materials from Ohio coals with costs and performance equal to or better than those of petroleum-derived asphalt binders. The objective of this work was to develop a new coal end-use market by developing an advanced thermocatalytic technology, to convert coal into infrastructure materials including asphalt binder (binder), rejuvenator, and rheology modifiers with costs and performance equal to or better than  those of petroleum-derived asphalt binders. Preliminary screening tests were completed using solid coal feed fluidized-bed system. This system is well suited to evaluate the proposed process as it allows pulverized coal to be directly injected into a temperature controlled bed of fluidized material, providing excellent replication of commercial transport reactor operating conditions. Screening parameters such as Ohio coal type Pittsburgh #8, operating temperature, feed gas composition, and addition of binder modifiers were evaluated. Each sample was tested at operating temperatures ranging from 350-700°C. The results include interesting engineering data needed to refine an existing process techno-economic study and begin developing performance warranties for the binder product.