Coal liquefaction using a dispersed phase nanoscale iron oxyhydroxide catalyst

Abstract

The catalytic activity of a nanoscale dispersed iron oxyhydroxide catalyst was studied using four coals and several model compounds in a tubing bomb microreactor. Several forms of iron catalyst were examined including the original 3-nm iron oxyhydroxide, H 2 prereduced, and in situ sulfided forms. The addition of catalyst at a 2 wt % coal loading gave an increase in both pentane and tetrahydrofuran solubles for all coals tested. A nonlinear increase in pentane and tetrahydrofuran solubles with an increase in catalyst loading and surface area was observed. The order of liquefaction yields using four solvents was tetralin > methylnaphthalene > mineral oil > creosote oil