Fine particle clay catalysts for coal liquefaction

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5186229

Olson, E S

The efficient production of environmentally acceptable distillate fuels requires catalysts for hydrogenation and cleavage of the coal macromolecules and removal of oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur heteroatomms. The goal of the proposed research is to develop new catalysts for the direct liquefaction of coal. This type of catalyst consists of fine clay particles that have been treated with reagents which form pillaring structures between the aluminosilicate layers of the clay. The pillars not only hold the layers apart but also constitute the active catalytic sites for hydrogenation of the coal and the solvent used in the liquefaction. The pillaring catalytic sites are composed of pyrrhotite, which has been previously demonstrated to be active for coal liquefaction. The pyrrhotite sites are generated in situ by sulfiding the corresponding oxyiron species. The size of the catalyst will be less than 40 nm in order to promote intimate contact with the coal material. Since the clays and reagents for pillaring and activating the clays are inexpensive, the catalysts can be discarded after use, rather than regenerated by a costly process.

• Research Organization: Universal Fuel Development Associates, Inc., Grand Forks, ND (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC22-91PC90048
• OSTI ID: 5186229
• Report Number(s): DOE/PC/90048-T3; ON: DE92013911
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010405* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Hydrogenation & Liquefaction
CATALYSTS
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CLAYS
COAL LIQUEFACTION
DOCUMENT TYPES
IRON COMPOUNDS
LIQUEFACTION
MINERALS
PROGRESS REPORT
SILICATE MINERALS
SMECTITE
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS