Petroleum fuels thermal conductivity

Another approach to the extraction of DBTs from a simulated petroleum fuel was the use of the water-soluble (NH3)5Ru(H20) +, which is known to bind to thiophene (T) as(NH3)5Ru(T) +. Because DBT binds more strongly than T in other metal complexes, it was expected that DBT would form (NPl3)5Ru( (S)-DBT) +. The complex is thermally stable but is very air-sensitive, requiring manipulations to be conducted with the carefiil exclusion of air. The (NH3)5Ru(H20) + complex dissolved in a solution of 30% H2O and 70% dimethyl formamide was able to extract 50% of the 400 ppm of sulfiu (in the form of DBT) in a 45% toluene/55% hexanes phase. An analogous extraction of 4,6-Mc2DBT was able to remove only 15% of the 4,6-Me2DBT. 

The use of charred coal or petroleum coke requires solutions to three significant problems (1) the extraction of the mineral material phase including metal oxides, pyrite, and alumino silicates (collectively called ash ), (2) management of the sulfur content, and (3) use of the kinetic heat of the fuel cell to complete thermal decomposition of the fuel (bake out). The latter, not required for cell operation, improves overall efficiency and makes use of the high thermal diffusivity and conductivity of elemental carbon. Finally, some strategy must be devised for recovery of most of the carbon dioxide evolved from the anode. 

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