As we have from time to time reported in our posts, the efficient liquefaction of Coal, into raw materials suitable for refining into hydrocarbon fuels, necessitates the hydrogenation, the "hydrotreating", of primarily carbonaceous compounds derived from Coal.
In direct Coal liquefaction processes, the additional hydrogenation can be accomplished by a Hydrogen donor solvent, as in WVU's "West Virginia Process", which, as we have documented, utilizes the chemical "tetralin" to effect liquefaction and hydrogenation.
Other researchers, working with indirect Coal liquefaction processes, wherein Coal is first converted into a synthesis gas, "syngas", which is subsequently condensed via catalysis into liquid hydrocarbons, have experimented with both steam and additional syngas to effect hydrogenation.
Herein, scientists at the Pittsburgh, PA, Energy Research Center, confirm that additional syngas, combined with steam and specific catalysts, can not only effectively hydrogenate syngas, but can do so more effectively than pure Hydrogen, as could be obtained, at much higher expense, from the electrolysis of water.