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

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5747748

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 coal liquids is the transfer of hydrogen. This study is exploring how hydrogen-transfer processes might be catalyzed by soluble, low-valent transition metal complexes and/or Lewis acids under moderate conditions of temperature and pressure. During this ninth quarter the following aspects of our research program received attention: (1) completion of attempts to desulfurize dibenzothiophene by the sole catalysis of hydrogen transfer from dihydroaromatic compounds by Lewis acids; (2) commencement of intensive study of the possible synergistic action of Lewis acids combined with nickel(0) complexes in accelerating the desulfurization of dibenzothiophene and related aromatic sulfur compounds; (3) further progress in understanding the influence of ligands in activating nickel(0) complexes for the rupture of carbon-heteroatom linkages (C-E, where E = nitrogen, sulfur, halogen and oxygen); and (4) continuing attempts to isolate and prove the structures of the organonickel intermediates active in these hydrogen-transfer and heteroatom-removal reactions.

Research Organization:
State Univ. of New York, Binghamton, NY (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
FG22-88PC88930
OSTI ID:
5747748
Report Number(s):
DOE/PC/88930-T9; ON: DE91012800
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English