We have many times documented that Coal can be liquefied and hydrogenated, and thus transformed into a very serviceable direct replacement for liquid petroleum, by dissolving it in long-known Coal oils, or tars, such as anthracene and naphthalene, and derivatives thereof.
An advance excerpt from the enclosed US Patent further confirms that fact, as in: "suitable solvents ... are tetralin, ... anthracene, (and etc., as) may be derived from ... the destructive distillation of coal".
We note, again, that "tetralin", according to other references we have earlier provided you, is an hydrogenated version of the Coal oil, naphthalene; and, we believe it is also the solvent specified by WVU, in their "West Virginia Process" for the direct liquefaction of Coal.
In any case, thirty-three years ago, our own United States Government agreed that Mobil Oil Corporation had developed a unique process, which they themselves described as the efficient:
"Liquefaction of Coal - United States Patent 4,032,428
Date: June, 1977
Inventor: George Johnson, NJ
Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation, NY
Abstract: This invention provides an improved process for solvent-refining coal which involves heating an admixture of coal and a thermally stable organic solvent to solubilize substantially the coal to form a slurry of liquefaction phase and a residual solids phase, and thereafter passing the slurry through a filter bed of crushed raw coal to separate the liquefaction phase from the solids phase.
Background: It was recognized by early workers that coal can be liquified by controlled heating in the substantial absence of oxygen. The conversion products are a liquid and a char. Because of the new compelling economic factors, the technology of coal liquefaction and gasification has been expanding at an accelerated pace. (And) by recently developed methods coal can be converted into hydrocarbonaceous liquids by subjecting coal to reaction with solvents.
(It) is an object of the present invention to provide an improved coal liquefaction process.
One or more objects of the present invention are accomplished by the provision of a process for liquefaction of coal which comprises admixing comminuted coal with a thermally stable organic solvent ... .
By the term 'thermally stable' organic solvent is meant a solvent medium which is substantially composed of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon derivatives (and) suitable solvents ... are tetralin, ... anthracene, (and etc., as) may be derived from ... the destructive distillation of coal, coal tar and oils.
The coal preferred in the practice of the present invention is of the bituminous type such as Pittsburgh Seam Coal, W. Kentucky No. 14, Illinois No. 6, and the like."
