About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
MS&T24: Materials Science & Technology
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| Symposium
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Enhancing Recycling and Reuse of Secondary Materials to Support a Circular Economy
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| Presentation Title |
Waste Coal Utilization for the Production of Mesophase Pitch-Based High Modulus Carbon Fiber |
| Author(s) |
Christina Thompson, George Frank, Michela Martinelli, Vivian Edwards, Ashley Morris, Asmund Vego, John Craddock, Mark Meier, Matthew Weisenberger |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Christina Thompson |
| Abstract Scope |
Millions of tons of waste coal slurry are produced annually as a by-product of coal mining and processing. Waste coal slurry has no current industrial use and is indefinitely stored in impoundments, which are a significant environmental liability due to the potential for dam leaks and breakages. We have shown that waste coal can be utilized for the production of high modulus carbon fiber. A Western Kentucky #9 waste coal (WKY9) was processed with fluid catalytic cracking decant oil (DO) in a mild direct coal liquefaction process to produce a coal extract (WKY9DO). WKY9DO was purified and thermally treated to obtain a melt-spinnable mesophase pitch. The utilization of waste coal resulted in a ~60% increase in the overall yield to mesophase pitch compared to DO processed alone in a similar manner. Moreover, the waste coal extract-derived fibers were carbonized and graphitized to obtain carbon fiber with high modulus (>500 GPa). |