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Effect of water on liquefaction reactivity of low rank coals

Conference · · Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Pet. Chem., Gen. Pap., Prepr.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6761232

Coals fed to direct liquefaction processes are crushed and dried prior to liquefaction. Drying the coal allows a decrease in the total pressure in the process vessels by eliminating the diluting effect of steam on hydrogen partial pressure. Drying can be accomplished using hot combustion gases, nitrogen, air or recycle solvent. Although bituminous coals are effectively converted to pyridine-soluble liquid products by the integrated Two Stage Liquefaction Process (ITSL), recent work at Lummus Crest, Inc., and Kerr-McGee, Inc. suggested that subbituminous coal may be less reactive than bituminous coal. This difference in reactivity may be the result of detrimental thermal reactions taking place between the organic molecules in coal and or the result of loss of water during drying. Work performed at the Gulf Research and Developemnt Corp. indicated that Belle Ayr subbituminous coal loses reactivity, as measured by conversion to pyridine-soluble liquids, as a result of drying. This result was found to be independent of the drying procedure. Although the work at Gulf was limited to drying coal under gaseous atmospheres, work performed at the Battelle Columbus Laboratories has shown that drying of Wyodak subbituminous coal in hot solvent-coal slurry also results in reduced liquefaction reactivity, as measured by conversion to a tetrahydrofuran (THF)-soluble liquid. THF and pyridine are essentially equivalent solvents for coal liquids.

Research Organization:
Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
OSTI ID:
6761232
Report Number(s):
CONF-860911-
Journal Information:
Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Pet. Chem., Gen. Pap., Prepr.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Pet. Chem., Gen. Pap., Prepr.; (United States) Vol. 31:3; ISSN ACPGA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English