Coal gasification as a future source for sulfur

Present and projected demand and supplies of natural gas and gasoline are discussed to conclude that a shortage of domestic supplies can be anticipated by 1985. Alternate sources of supply are described including increased imports of gas and oil, import of LNG, and conversion of coal, oil shale, and tar sands to liquid or high btu gas. These alternate sources are compared briefly, and coal conversion is shown to have favorable factors including the large reserves available close to area of high demand for gas and gasoline. Descriptions are given of processes under investigation for gasification of coal and conversion of liquids and high btu gas. Sulfur removal is required in all coal conversion systems to permit catalytic processing steps, so that production of by-product sulfur is an inherent part of synthetic fuels from coal. Based on an average sulfur content of the coal of 3% and recovery of 75% as elemental sulfur, about 7.5 tons of sulfur can be recovered per 1,000 bbl of gasoline and 1.2 tons of sulfur per Mcf of high btu gas produced. Estimates of synthetic fuels production are given and of potential sulfur recovery. Within 20 yr. millions of tons of sulfur can bemore » anticipated annually which would have a large impact on the supply and price of sulfur.« less