Catalytic Activity of Ferric Hydroxide-Based Catalyst in Direct Liquefaction of Coal

Abstract

The catalytic activities of various binary and ternary catalysts, Fe (OH) 3-α, Fe (OH) 3-S-α (α=Ni (OH) 2, CuO, Al (OH) 3, Zn (OH) 2, MoO3) were examined for the direct liquefaction of Minamiohyubari coal in the presence of decrystalized and hydrogenated anthracene oil as vehicle at reaction temperature 410°C and initial hydrogen pressure 10.13 MPa.Further, the mechanism of catalytic action for catalysts having higher catalytic activi-ties was investigated with both differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis. The following experimental results were obtained: (1) Of the catalysts tested, especially Fe (OH) 3-Ni (OH) 2, Fe (OH) 3-CuO and Fe (OH) 3-SMoO3 catalysts had remarkable high activities; (2) Above metallic compounds were all found to be effective as promotors for Fe (OH) 3-S, showing higher activity and oil selectivity. There was a suitable ratio of additive amount of S and the promotor into Fe (OH) 3 in order to obtain the highest activity; (3) The catalytic activity of the Fe (OH) 3-Ni (OH) 2 was considered to be due to Ni and Fe3O4 formed from Ni (OH) 2 and Fe (OH) 3 by their decomposition and reduction at lower temperature in hydrogen atmosphere.The mechanism of catalytic action of the Fe (OH) 3-CuO catalyst is seemed to be almost the same as that of the Fe (OH) 3-Ni (OH) 2.