Cracking and hydrogenation of low-temperature coal tars and alkyl phenols

Abstract

This review covers the literature on thermal and catalytic cracking, hydrocracking, and hydrogenation of low-temperature coal tars and alkyl phenols for the production of valuable products such as ethylene, propylene, fuel gas, BTX, low-boiling phenols, gasoline, and middle distillates. Catalysts that have been tried for this purpose are those normally used in the petroleum industry. However, they have limited application because of the presence of high proportions of condensed polycyclic aromatics and heterocyclics which require severe process conditions. Coke formation in these thermal conversion processes poses a serious problem. The potentialities of coal-derived products as raw materials for specific chemicals production have to be assessed carefully taking into consideration their availability, price, and suitability.