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Bimetallic promotion of cooperative hydrogen transfer and heteroatom removal in coal liquefaction

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5725459

The ultimate objective of this research is to uncover new catalytic processes for the liquefaction of coal and for upgrading coal-derived fuels by removing undesirable organosulfur, organonitrogen and organooxygen constituents. Basic to both the liquefaction of coal and the purification of coals liquids is the transfer of hydrogen from such sources as dihydrogen, metal hydrides or partially reduced aromatic hydrocarbons to the extensive aromatic rings in coal itself or to aromatic sulfides, amines or ethers. This study is exploring how hydrogen-transfer processes might be catalyzed by soluble, low-valent trasition metal complexes and/or Lewis acid under moderate conditions of temperature and pressure. This quarter the following aspects of our research program received attention: (1) inauguration of studies aimed at assessing the synergistic effect of nickel(0) complexes, combined with organoaluminum Lewis acids, in promoting hydrogen transfer and heteroatom removal in organic substrates; (2) further investigation of the effect of ligands in activating nickel(0) complexes for the rupture of carbon-heteroatom linkages (C-E, where E = boron, nitrogen, sulfur, halogen and oxygen); and (3) attempts to detect, trap and synthesize independently the nickel intermediates responsible for hydrogen transfer and heteroatom removal in the foregoing processes.

Research Organization:
State Univ. of New York, Binghamton, NY (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
FG22-88PC88930
OSTI ID:
5725459
Report Number(s):
DOE/PC/88930-T10; ON: DE91014643
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English