Catalytic Hydrocracking of an Asphaltenic Coal Residue - Energy & Fuels (ACS Publications)
In this submission, we again confirm our earlier reports that Spain had, at one time, both a Coal-to-Liquid conversion capability, and, a technology to further convert the carbonaceous residue of primary coal liquefaction processes into additional hydrocarbon products.
We have in recent reports made reference to the fact that some unconverted carbonaceous residues, left by some primary processes of Coal liquefaction, could themselves be further processed to yield even more hydrocarbon liquids; and, we wanted to follow up in a timely way with additional support of that assertion.
The excerpt, with comment following:
"Catalytic Hydrocracking of an Asphaltenic Coal Residue
A. M. Benito and M. T. Martínez; Instituto de Carboqumica, Zaragoza, Spain
Energy Fuels, 1996, 10 (6), pp 1235–1240; Copyright 1996 American Chemical Society
Abstract: Catalytic hydrocracking of a residue from deasphalting a syncrude obtained by direct coal liquefaction of a subbituminous Spanish coal was carried out at different temperatures and reaction times. Kinetic study of the cracking reaction has been performed. The viscosity, coke content, boiling point distribution, elemental analysis, and aromaticity of the reaction products have been determined. The experimental data fit with the first-order kinetic model proposed. The main effects observed with the thermal hydrotreatment have been a large decrease of the viscosity of products that varies from 4608 cSt in the feedstock to 79 cSt. The conversion of the heavy fraction (bp > 350 °C and soluble in toluene) increased with the temperature and residence time, and the formation of coke was inhibited even at the softest reaction conditions used ."
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As we have many times documented, asphalt-like materials are produced as a by-product of some Coal liquefaction technologies. Without documenting the references, we remind you of our earlier reports, wherein Coal liquefaction residues, from FMC Corporation's New Jersey "COED" Process Coal conversion plant, were shipped to Spain for further processing, to generate additional hydrocarbon products.
In other reports, we have documented, and will document further, that, when such secondary conversion operations are applied to the residues from primary Coal liquefaction processes, then, ultimately, 95%, or more, of raw Coal, depending on grade, can be converted into liquid hydrocarbons.
We also intend submitting further documentation of FMC Corporation's development of the "COED" coal liquefaction process, in their New Jersey pilot plant - development work that was sponsored by the Office of Coal Research, then a part of the US Department of the Interior, in a project that was, ominously and predictably, operated in part by the Atlantic Richfield Oil Company (ARCO).
