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Title: Flash hydropyrolysis of coal. Quarterly report No. 8, January 1-March 31, 1979

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5518754· OSTI ID:5518754

The parametric study of the flash hydropyrolysis of sub-bituminous coal is in progress. 35 successful experiments have been completed to date. BTX (benzene, toluene, and xylene) yields from the coal have been found to be as high as 15% and the total liquid yields approximately 20%. Compared to lignite, the sub-bituminous coal produces a 50% greater amount of BTX with a much smaller yield of heavier liquids (greater than or equal to C/sub 9/). The total liquid yields were approximately the same in both cases and the composition of the heavier liquids was also similar. Maximum gaseous hydrocarbon yields produced at 2500 psi were also similar to that of lignite, 84 to 88%, except that at lower pressures the sub-bituminous proved to be more reactive, yielding 55% methane plus ethane at 1000 psi compared to 35% for the lignite. The sulfur contained in the char remaining after reacting the lignite was determined to be approximately 95% in the form of organic sulfur. The sulfur in the original lignite is approximately 64% in the organic form. It would appear that the particular organic form of sulfur in the lignite is able to survive extreme temperature (approx. = 900/sup 0/C) at the short residence time it is subjected to in the FHP reactor. Extraction of this char with MEK yielded a residue that represented 1% of the carbon in the feed lignite; it could not be identified by gas chromatography.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-02-0016
OSTI ID:
5518754
Report Number(s):
BNL-51052
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English