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Effects of low-temperature catalytic pretreatments on coal structure and reactivity in liquefaction

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6765242· OSTI ID:6765242

This work is a fundamental study of catalytic pretreatments as a potential preconversion step to low-severity liquefaction. The ultimate goal of this work is to provide the basis for the design of an improved liquefaction process and to facilitate our understanding of those processes that occur when coals are initially dissolved. The main objectives of this project are to study the effects of low-temperature pretreatments on coal structure and their impacts on the subsequent liquefaction. The effects of pretreatment temperatures, catalyst type, coal rank and influence of solvent will be examined. We have made significant progress in the following four aspects during this quarterly period: (1) influence of drying and oxidation of coal on the conversion and product distribution in catalytic liquefaction of Wyodak subbituminous coal using a dispersed catalyst; (2) spectroscopic characterization of dried and oxidized Wyodak coal and the insoluble residues from catalytic and thermal liquefaction; (3) the structural alteration of low-rank coal in low-severity liquefaction with the emphasis on the oxygen-containing functional groups; and (4) effects of solvents and catalyst dispersion methods in temperature-programmed and non-programmed liquefaction of three low-rank coals.

Research Organization:
Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC22-91PC91042
OSTI ID:
6765242
Report Number(s):
DOE/PC/91042-T4; ON: DE93014941
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English