Publications Details

Interim report on conversion of coal to liquids via catalytic hydropyrolysis

Klavetter, E.A.; Salgado, L.V.

The catalytic hydropyrolysis tests performed on coals of varying rank clearly show that high conversions and tar yields can be achieved in a fixed-bed laboratory reactor system. Each of the three types of catalysts utilized, MoS{sub 2} derived from dioxydithiomolybdate, the metal HTO catalysts, and the Pd colloidal catalysts, were shown to be effective for the bituminous coals tested. For the lower rank coals, no significant increase in conversions or tar yields preliminary tests utilizing oil agglomeration as a pretreatment provided encouraging results, with conversions and tar yields achieved similar to using the metal HTO and colloid catalysts. This pretreatment process might be effective for use in catalyst dispersal and coal cleaning, and facilitating coal introduction into a high-pressure reactor. In summary, the data obtained show that catalytic hydropyrolysis on a laboratory scale can achieve the necessary conversions and tar yields to be considered as a potentially viable process for converting coal into liquid products. Through proper dispersal of selected catalysts onto bituminous coals, conversions greater than 80% and tar yields greater than 70% can be achieved at low active metal concentrations. 12 refs., 9 figs., 7 tabs.