Records of Carbogel, Incorporated

Carbogel, Incorporated was the United States subsidiary of AB Carbogel, a Swedish alternative fuels firm. AB Carbogel was founded in 1974 as a joint venture between Boliden Mineral AB, a Swedish mining company, and Berol Kemi, a Swedish specialty chemicals company. The firm was the developer and manufacturer of Carbogel, a coal water slurry fuel. The manufacture of Carbogel involved wet grinding specially selected coals to a certain fineness, benefaction by froth flotation (which removed ash and sulfur content), filtration and dewatering, and finally mixing with chemical additives supplied by Berol Kemi. The end result was a slurry mix of coal and water which could be used in place of more expensive Number 6 fuel oil (“Bunker Oil”) in industrial applications.

In the wake of the energy crises of the 1970s, Carbogel coal water slurry initially appeared to be a practical and desirable alternative fuel. To better promote Carbogel in the international energy market, AB Carbogel founded subsidiaries in Canada, Japan, and the United States.

Carbogel, Incorporated was established by AB Carbogel in 1983 to develop and promote Carbogel technology in the United States. This subsidiary was 70% owned by its Swedish parent firm and 30% owned by Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation, an American energy concern. However, problems arising from the improper storage of the slurry in tank cars and an unforeseen drop in the price of Number 6 fuel oil relegated Carbogel to a niche position in the United States energy market.

Sources

Records of Carbogel, Incorporated, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.