CASPER, Wyo. — The University of Wyoming has signed an agreement aimed at developing a cleaner-burning coal in the Powder River Basin.
Under the agreement with Clean Coal Technologies Inc., the company will invest $1 million, matched by $500,000 in state funding, to bring CCTI’s coal-beneficiation technology to market.
According to a UW statement, the funding will go toward construction of a rotary absorber kiln suited to stabilizing the surface of treated Powder River Basin coal in a demonstration facility at the former Fort Union mine site near Gillette; laboratory and field studies by UW researchers to quantify the performance of the technology; and studies by UW engineers to set the stage for design of a commercial plant using the technology.
CCTI’s technology reportedly reduces the moisture in run-of-mine coal, leaving the mineral stable and safe to handle. Along with producing more energy than untreated coal, the refined product also produces fewer emissions when burned, including carbon dioxide, sulfur and mercury.
“We are delighted to be associated with this first-of-a-kind and industry-leading technology,” says Richard Horner, director of special projects and emerging technology in UW’s School of Energy Resources. “We have validated that CCTI’s technology is effective and are honored that the company has placed its trust in our researchers to support the important next stage in bringing Pristine™ technology to market. The university is very pleased to support CCTI in establishing the technology commercially in the Powder River Basin.”
“Our partnership with the university and the state of Wyoming will ensure that the test facility will be ready to commence testing of coal and will help our company move to commercialization in an expedited manner,” CCTI CEO Robin Eves says. “This second-generation plant will include process and engineering enhancements that the university’s simulated modeling study and experimental program advocated. We fully expect it will further increase the plant’s performance and efficiency and will reduce the overall cost of a commercial unit. Furthermore, the university’s work has informed and quantified the potential of manufacturing valuable byproducts as a consequence of the coal-beneficiation process.”
