Co-liquefaction of Enriched Coal Maceral Constituents and Sawdust |
| WANG Yang, LI Ting-chen, REN Zheng-wei, et al. |
| Dept. Chem. Technol. for Energy Source, East China Univ. Sci. & Technol., Shanghai 200237, China Herein another scientific report confirming both the effectiveness of the solvent, tetralin, in direct coal liquefaction processes, as studied by WVU, and the fact that such direct liquefaction technologies using tetralin can employ cellulose as a biologically-derived, carbon-offsetting co-feed for coal in appropriate liquefaction processes. The excerpt: "Co-liquefaction of coal and sawdust was studied in the presence of hydrogen-donor solvent, tetralin. Coal samples were prepared through floatation of the Xinwen coal, followed by enrichment of maceral constituents. Sample I was rich in vitrinite and Sample II fusinite. Effects of reaction temperature, time and initial cold H2 pressure were studied on conversion, yield, especially oil yield, through comparison between these two samples. Because it is more difficult to be liquefied, Sample II, is greatly affected by changes in temperature and time. However, it is almost independent of change in initial cold H2 pressure, owing to the role of tetralin as hydrogen vehicle. Certain product(s) formed from thermolysis of sawdust can help hydrogenation of the intermediate (asphaltene and preasphaltene) in further forming oil products." And, make note of the synergy, wherein the inclusion of sawdust can actually help to further process, hydrogenate, asphaltene that is an otherwise objectionable by-product of coal processing. Co-processing sawdust, or other cellulose, one presumes, with coal facilitates the reduction of asphaltene into components useful for liquid fuel synthesis. |
