Low-rank coal and poly fatty acid distillate characterization as a preparation of coal upgrading palm oil technology

Abstract The utilization of low-rank coal is restricted by such factors as high moisture content, low heating value, high propensity to low-temperature oxidation, spontaneous combustion, etc. Some coal upgrading technologies to reduce the moisture content have been developed, one of them is coal upgrading palm oil technology using palm fatty acid distillate as an additive to keep the stability of moisture content in the coal after the process. To study the possibility of the upgrading technology application in Indonesia, some studies have been conducted. The study covered coal characterization such as proximate, ultimate and calorific value, palm fatty acid distillate for stabilization of upgraded low-rank coal and coal upgrading by coal upgrading palm oil technology in laboratory scale. By using 7 Indonesian low-rank coals and 4 palm fatty acid distillates, it is confirmed that the coal upgrading palm oil technology is effective to reduce the moisture content and increase the calorific value of low rank coal.