Treating solid fuel

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A method of treating fine particles of solid carbonaceous fuel of the coal or coke type that comprises mixing the fuel particles with a liquid aqueous solution comprising essentially (a) sodium, potassium or lithium, hydroxide together with (b) calcium magnesium, or barium, hydroxide or carbonate or a plurality thereof, with a ratio, of (a) to the fuel of about 0.04 to 0.70 (typically 0.10 to 0.35) by weight, a ratio of (b) to the fuel of about 0.02 to 0.30 (typically 0.08 to 0.20) by weight and a ratio of water, to the fuel of about 1 to 10 (typically 2 to 5) by weight; heating the resulting mixture, at an elevated pressure to, a temperature of about 150 to 375° C (typically 175 to 300° C) …