Superacid catalyzed depolymerization and conversion of coals. Final technical report. [HF:BF/sub 2//H/sub 2/]

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6202497· OSTI ID:6202497

Olah, G

We were interested in applying superacid catalyzed cleavage-depolymerization and ionic hydrogenation low temperature conversion of coal to liquid hydrocarbon, as well as obtaining information about the reactions involved and the structure of intermediates of the coal liquefaction process. In order to show the feasibility of our proposed research we have carried out preliminary investigation in these areas. Preceding our work there was no practical application of a superacid system to coal liquefaction. We carried out an extensive study of the potential of the HF:BF/sub 3//H/sub 2/ system for coal hydroliquefaction. Under varying conditions of reactant ratio, reaction time and temperature, we were able to obtain over 95% pyridine extractible product by treating coal in HF:BF/sub 3/:H/sub 2/ system at approx. 100/sup 0/C for 4 hours. The coal to acid ratio was 1:5 and FB/sub 3/ at 900 psi and H/sub 2/ at 500 psi were used. These are extremely encouraging results in that the conditions used are drastically milder than those used in any known process, such as Exxon donor solvent and related processes. The cyclohexane extractibility of the treated coal was as high as 27% and the yield of liquid distillate at 400/sup 0/C/5 x 10/sup -3//sup torr/ was approx. 30%. The infrared spectrum of product coal, extracts and distillates were distinctly different from the starting coal and show a significant increase in the amount of saturates. The /sup 1/H NMR spectrum of cyclohexane extract of the treated coal shows essentially all aliphatic photons. The spectra of other treated coal extracts show increased amounts and types of aliphatic protons as well as significant amounts of protons bound to unsaturated sites. This again indicattes that the HF-BF/sub 3/ system is depolymerizing the coal to small fragments which are soluble in non-polar solvents.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: U. S. Department of Energy (DOE)
• DOE Contract Number: AT03-79ER10340
• OSTI ID: 6202497
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/10340-T1; ON: DE83013036
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
CATALYSTS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COAL
HYDROGENATION
COAL EXTRACTS
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
COAL LIQUEFACTION
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
YIELDS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXTRACTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
LIQUEFACTION
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
MATERIALS
RESONANCE
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENTS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
010405* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Hydrogenation & Liquefaction