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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Novel catalysts for upgrading coal-derived liquids. Quarterly technical progress report, April 1, 1994--June 30, 1994

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:10185421
Coal liquefaction and coal-oil co-processing are perhaps the most promising technologies for the conversion of coal into high-quality, clean-burning transportation fuels. An important step in the conversion process involves upgrading (e.g., heteroatom removal and hydrogenation) the coal-derived liquids. These liquids tend to be richer in heteroatoms, more aromatic and higher molecular weight than typical crude oils, and conventional petroleum hydrotreatment catalysts tend to be less effective for upgrading coal-derived liquids (Xu et al., 1991). Current coal liquefaction research and development efforts typically have taken one of two approaches to solving this problem (Derbyshire, 1989). The first is to develop improved coal dissolution catalysts that will lead to liquid products with characteristics more closely resembling that of petroleum crude oil. This approach, if successful, would facilitate the implementation of existing crude oil refining technology for the downstream processing of coal-derived liquids. The second approach, which is adopted in this research, recognizes that coal-derived liquids do differ from petroleum crude oils and aims to develop new catalysts specifically for the upgrading process. If effective, these catalysts could be integrated into existing coal liquefaction and co-processing technologies and significantly improve the economic feasibility of developing commercial processes for the conversion of coal into transportation fuels. The authors evaluated the catalytic properties of a series of supported molybdenum oxynitride and nitride catalysts for benzothiophene hydrodesulfurization.
Research Organization:
Michigan Univ., Ann Arbor, MI (United States). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
FG22-92PC92537
OSTI ID:
10185421
Report Number(s):
DOE/PC/92537--T6; ON: DE95000385
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English