Coal with improved combustion properties

Abstract

A method for improving the combustion properties of a coalcomprises treating said coal with a metal porphyrin. The invention also provides a coal having a metal porphyrin deposited thereon, and a method of producing heat, comprising combusting the coal.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . A method for improving the combustion properties of a coal, the method comprising treating said coal with a metal phthalocyanine. 
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the metal is a transition metal capable of more than one oxidation state. 
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the metal is selected from the group comprising iron, cobalt, manganese or a mixture of all or any two thereof. 
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the metal phthalocyanine is iron phthalocyanine. 
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the coal is brown coal. 
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the step of treating the coal comprises applying to it a solution of the metal phthalocyanine dissolved in a fluid carrier followed by filtering off the solids and drying them or allowing them to dry. 
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 30 , further comprising the step of washing the coal with water after removal of the solution. 
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the step of treating the coal comprises vapour-depositing said metal phthalocyanine. 
   
   
       33 . A coal having a metal phthalocyanine deposited thereon. 
   
   
       34 . A coal according to  claim 33 , wherein the metal is a transition metal capable of more than one oxidation state. 
   
   
       35 . A coal according to  claim 33 , wherein the metal is selected from the group comprising: iron, cobalt, manganese or a mixture of all or any two thereof. 
   
   
       36 . A coal according to  claim 33 , wherein the metal phthalocyanine is iron phthalocyanine. 
   
   
       37 . A coal according to  claim 33 , wherein the coal is brown coal. 
   
   
       38 . A coal according to  claim 33 , wherein the metal phthalocyanine is present in a concentration in the range 0.05-0.5% by weight. 
   
   
       39 . A method of combustion emission abatement comprising addition of a metal phthalocyanine to coal to form a treated coal, and combusting said treated coal in a combustion chamber with reduction of the excess air in the combustion chamber.