Source: Researchers turn coal powder into graphite in microwave oven "By cutting the copper foil into a fork shape, the sparks were induced by the microwave radiation, generating an extremely high temperature of more than 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit within a few seconds," says Masi, lead author of the paper. "This is why you shouldn't place a metal fork inside a microwave oven." The sparks caused by the microwaves generated the high temperatures necessary to transform the coal powder into polycrystalline graphite, with the copper foil and hydrogen gas also contributing to the process. While the experiment included microwave durations ranging from 3 to 45 minutes, the optimal duration was found to be 15 minutes. The researchers say this new method of coal conversion could be refined and performed at a larger scale to yield both a higher quality and quantity of nano-graphite materials. "Finite graphite reserves and environmental concerns for the graphite extraction procedures make this method of converting coal to graphite a great alternative source of graphite production," the scientists wrote. This is important as graphite is an important resource in LiON batteries. Bob Wilson
That is an interesting new use. Here is an article that speculates how useful coal is and that in the future this much maligned resource may even be considered too valuable to use as fuel Coal to Products, A Carbon Valley and Future New Uses for Coal - ACCLive.
Fossil hydrocarbons have many uses as chemical precursors. Describing them as fossil fuels is very narrow. Many things can be burned to provide thermal energy. It is sensible that we don't do that with other useful hydrocarbons.
