Catalytic hydrogenation of coal-derived liquids. Interim report for the period January 1978 through March, 1978

Abstract

The investigation of the catalytic hydrotreating of COED pyrolysis oil was completed. The investigation of commercially available catalysts showed that nickel molybdates are best for nitrogen removal, cobalt molybdates best for sulfur removal. Fabrication of catalysts specifically for use in hydrotreating COED pyrolysis oil showed that cobalt-nickel-molybdates on alumina and/or alumina silicates of large pore diameter are the most promising. This report contains a complete description of the work done on COED pyrolysis oil during the entire life of this contract. Work continued on PAMCO's SRC-II solvent refined coal. A summary of all the work done with SRC during the life of this contract will appear in the next quarterly report, FE-2034-12. With SYNTHOIL, three additional commercially available catalysts were investigated; two were cobalt molybdates, the other was a nickel molybdate. Three cobalt-nickel-molybdates fabricated at MSU were also investigated. Rapidly declining activity of these catalysts made it difficult to compare them accurately with previously reported work but a cobalt-nickel-molybdate on an alumina carrier of large pore diameter looks promising for nitrogen and sulfur removal as well as conversion to lower boiling products.