Chemistry of lignite liquefaction. Semiannual report, April-September 1982

Technical Report · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6694708

Baltisberger, R J

In the asphaltene and preasphaltene studies samples obtained from the GFETC have been analyzed for carbonyl content with hydroxylamine to form an oxime. The hydroxyl (phenolic) oxygen comprises about 50% of the total oxygen with carbonyl groups are 20 to 25% of the total. Some 70 to 80% of the total oxygen has been accounted for by these two functionalities. These data explain why virtually no ethers have been found in recent samples reacted. A number of samples will be analyzed for carbonyl to determine how representative these results are. In the ether cleavage studies a sequence of ether cleavage reactions preceded by methylation was carried out. After reductive ether cleavage, the methoxyl groups were removed with boron tribromide. The hydroxyl titer determined by acetylation did not change significantly during this procedure indicating that phenolic ethers were not preventing ether cleavage in these samples. Our current efforts are focused on the lack of reduction of carbonyl groups during the reductive treatment. The catalytic role of H/sub 2/S in the liquefaction of low rank coal was studied. The conversion of diphenylmethane and diphenyl ether, two models for crucial bonds to be ruptured during coal liquefaction, have been examined by varying the concentrations of H/sub 2/, H/sub 2/S and S in relation to the compound under study. The diphenylmethane study is more advanced, and the optimum conversion conditions together with products are determined. Sulfur exhibits a molecular cracking role and H/sub 2/S provides hydrogen atoms to limit the formation of high molecular weight compounds. The optimum conversion conditions as now envisioned consist of a two-stage reactor system with H/sub 2/S-S as reactants in the first stage and H/sub 2/ in the second one. The operating temperature of 450/sup 0/C is better than 425/sup 0/C. An appendix has been entered separately.

• Research Organization: North Dakota Univ., Grand Forks (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AB18-78FC02101
• OSTI ID: 6694708
• Report Number(s): DOE/FC/02101-22; ON: DE83004393
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010405* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Hydrogenation & Liquefaction
BROWN COAL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CATALYSTS
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL BONDS
CHEMISTRY
CLEAVAGE
COAL
COAL LIQUEFACTION
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ETHERS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
LIGNITE
LIQUEFACTION
MATERIALS
MICROSTRUCTURE
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
STRUCTURAL MODELS
SULFIDES
SULFUR
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES