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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Chemistry and structure of coal derived asphaltenes and preasphaltenes. Quarterly progress report, April-June 1980

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6744175· OSTI ID:6744175

It is the objective of this project to isolate the asphaltene and preasphaltene fractions from coal liquids from a number of liquefaction processes. These processes consist of in general: catalytic hydrogenation, staged pyrolysis and solvent refining. These asphaltene fractions may be further separated by both gradient elution through column chromatography, and molecular size distribution through gel permeation chromatography. Those coal-derived asphaltene and preasphaltene fractions will be investigated by various chemical and physical methods for characterization of their structures. After the parameters are obtained, these parameters will be correlated with the refining and conversion variables which control a given type of liquefaction process. The effects of asphaltene in catalysis, ash or metal removal, desulfurization and denitrification will also be correlated. It is anticipated that understanding the role of asphaltenes in liquefaction processes will enable engineers to both improve existing processes, and to make recommendations for operational changes in planned liquefaction units in the United States. The objective of Phase 1 was to complete the isolation and separation of coal liquid fractions and to initiate their characterization. The objective of Phase 2 is to continue the characterization of coal asphaltenes and other coal liquid fractions by use of physical and instrumental methods. The structural parameters obtained will be used to postulate hypothetical average structures for coal liquid fractions. The objective of Phase 3 is to concentrate on the characterization of the preasphaltene (benzene insoluble fraction) of coal liquid fraction by the available physical and chemical methods to obtain a number of structural parameters.

Research Organization:
University of Southern California, Los Angeles (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
DOE Contract Number:
AC01-76ET10626
OSTI ID:
6744175
Report Number(s):
FE-2031-17
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English