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Hydrogen-transfer-promoted bond scission initiated by coal fragments

Journal Article · · Energy Fuel; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ef00002a009· OSTI ID:6831723

The authors report evidence to support a new mechanism for coal liquefaction in which strong linkages (i.e., nonthermolyzable linkages such as diarylmethanes, other alkylaromatics, and diaryl ethers) are cleaved at 400 C as a result of hydrogen transfer from solvent-derived cyclohexadienyl radicals in a direct bimolecular step (radical hydrogen transfer, RHT). Evidence has recently been presented for the operation of this pathway in model compounds. Addition of coal samples to these model compounds markedly accelerated the cleavage of the strong central bonds. Further, this cleavage exhibits the high selectivity typical of the RHT process, suggesting that radical hydrogen transfer, if anything, is more relevant to actual liquefaction than indicated by previous pure model compound studies. The relative liquefaction efficiencies of various donor solvents is shown to be much more readily rationalized by this mechanism than by the traditional bond-scission/radical-capping liquefaction mechanism. 26 references, 2 figures, 2 tables.

Research Organization:
SRI International, Menlo Park, CA
DOE Contract Number:
FG22-84PC70810
OSTI ID:
6831723
Journal Information:
Energy Fuel; (United States), Journal Name: Energy Fuel; (United States) Vol. 1:2; ISSN ENFUE
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English