COAL LIQUEFACTION PROCESS

• Main Authors: ARTHUR J. DAHLBERG, JOEL W. ROSENTHAL
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.09.1986
• Edition: 4
• Subjects: CHEMISTRY; CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; METALLURGY; MINERAL WAXES; PEAT; PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVEHYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, ORGASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE

This invention is a process for liquefying coal in at least two stages, comprising (a) heating a slurry comprising a solid particulate coal, and an externally supplied dispersed dissolution catalyst in the presence of hydrogen in a first reaction zone to substantially dissolve the coal and provide a first effluent slurry having a normally liquid portion comprising solvent and dissolved coal and containing undissolved solids and dispersed dissolution catalyst; and (b) contacting at least a portion of said normally liquid portion containing undissolved solids and dispersed dissolution catalyst with hydrogen in a second reaction zone in the presence of a second externally supplied hydrogenation catalyst under hydrogenation conditions, including a temperature lower than the temperature to which said slurry is heated in step (a), to produce a second effluent slurry having a normally liquid portion. Preferably, the dispersed dissolution catalyst in the first hydrogenation zone is added as an emulsion of aqueous soluble compounds of transition elements, e.g. from Groups IV-B, V-B, VI-B or Group VIII of the Periodic Table.