A coal to oil plant. Coal is loaded into large containers, set alight, and blasted with a mixture of steam and oxygen under high pressure. The coal ga


A coal to oil plant. Coal is loaded into large containers, set alight, and blasted with a mixture of steam and oxygen under high pressure. The coal gas produced is reduced by hydrogen from the pressurised steam. It is then washed with methanol to remove impurities, and transferred to reactors where further chemical treatment determines the nature of the final product. Petrol, oil, waxes and other chemicals can be manufactured in this way. It is an expensive process, however, and depends on cheap coal for its economic viabilty.


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Photo credit: © ALEX BARTEL/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: coal, energy, fossil, fuel, fuels, industry, oil, plant