Hydrocracking of polynuclear hydrocarbons
We have cited multiple reports wherein it's indicated that primary Coal oils, Coal tars, such as anthracene and napthalene, often referred to, along with other, similar, compounds that are derived from petroleum, as "PAH's", or polyaromatic, or polynuclear aromatic, hydrocarbons, can themselves be converted into liquid hydrocarbon fuels; or, hydrogenated and used as agents of liquefaction and hydrogenation for more raw coal.
In fact, we believe the Hydrogen-donor solvent known as "Tetralin", which is specified in WVU's "West Virginia Process" for direct Coal liquefaction, and, by others we have documented, in similar Coal conversion processes, to be an hydrogenated derivative of the primary Coal oil, Napthalene.
Herein, we submit two documents, one linked above and another following, with excerpts from both, clearly indicating the suitability of such basic Coal oils for conversion into liquid hydrocarbon fuels.
First, from the initial link and it's attached file, we present excerpts from yet another Coal conversion US Patent held by Consolidation Coal Company:
"United States Patent 3,355,376 - Hydrocracking of Polynuclear Hydrocarbons
Date: November, 1967
Inventor: Everett Gorin, et. al.
Assignee: Consolidation Coal Company
Abstract: Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons such as coal extract are hydrogenated in the presence of molten zinc halide catalyst.
This invention relates to the catalytic hydrocracking of predominantly polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbonaceous materials, and particularly to the conversion to gasoline of substantially undistillable high molecular weight predominantly aromatic hydrocarbonaceous feedstocks which may contain appreciable quantities of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur compounds, as well as unfilterable ash contaminants.
Claims: (A) process for converting polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbonaceous feedstock to gasoline."
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Well, that sounds pretty good, doesn't it? Consol knew, more than four decades ago, how to convert, using their Zinc Halide technology, which we've previously documented, nasty old Coal tar into Gasoline.
It turns out that our own US DOE, some years later, went them one better, by combining Consol's Zinc Halide process with West Virginia University's seemingly-preferred Hydrogen-donor solvent, Tetalin, to develop an even better process for converting primary Coal tars into liquid hydrocarbons.
As witness, with comment appended, excerpts from the following link to, and the attached file of:
http://www.anl.gov/PCS/acsfuel/preprint%20archive/Files/26_3_NEW%20YORK_08-81_0112.pdf
"Low-Temp Hydrogenation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Tetralin in a Molten Salt Catalyst
Research sponsored by the US DOE under Contract W-7405-eng-26 with Union Carbide Corporation
(Does everyone recall our earlier reports of Union Carbide's Coal conversion pilot plant in South Charleston, WV; and, the several patented Coal liquefaction and conversion technologies which resulted? More on all of that is to follow in coming days and weeks.)
August, 1981
AC Buchannan, et. al.; Chemistry Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Molten SbCl3 has been shown to be an effective catalyst for the hydrocracking of coal with a high selectivity for the production of distillable hydrocarbons, analogous to the more extensively studied molten salt hydrocracking catalysts based on ZnCl2. Our research is aimed at a basic study of molten salt catalysts (with) recent studies examining the chemical behavior of PAH's ... in molten salts in which SbCl3 is the primary constituent.
Tetralin is often used as a hydrogen donor solvent for thermally generated neutral radicals in coal liquefaction and model compound studies. In the present work, we investigate the possibility that tetralin may act as a hydrogen donor to some PAH's under extremely mild (80 degrees C, no H2) ... conditions.
We have studied the reaction behavior of phenanthrene, pyrene, anthracene and napthalene (tetracene) with tetralin ... . ... anthracene and naphthalene react rapidly with tetralin at 80 C and are selectively hydrogenated.
Research in this area is continuing ... ."
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If federal research into the hydrogenation of Coal tars, to make "distillable hydrocarbons" was "continuing", almost three decades ago, where has it continued to?
In any case, as we have earlier reported, we have herein further affirmation that long-known primary Coal tars and oils can be converted into liquid hydrocarbons; specifically, as per Consol, into Gasoline.
Moreover, our United States Government participated in, and sponsored, research, which concluded that components of what we perceive to be Consol's metal halide and WVU's tetralin-reliant Coal liquefaction technologies could be synergistically combined to hydrogenate primary Coal tars, with no need for added, and expensive, elemental Hydrogen, at a temperature well under the boiling point of water.
