J - Use of Coal Products for Non-energy Purposes

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the use of coal products for non-energy purposes. Coal refining can make an essential contribution to meet the demand for chemical raw materials. The production of chemicals from coal is connected with the energy utilization of coal to a higher degree than in mineral oil processing. However, the disadvantage of total gasification processes is that the high-molecular hydrocarbons in the coal are destroyed. The recovery of tar from the production of coke has amounted to approximately 16 million t/a for15 years throughout the world, processed in approximately 127 refineries. A slight increase is expected in connection with increase in the steel industry activity in the centrally planned economy countries. A combined production by distillation and hydrogenation of tar has existed since the beginning of the 1950s. The processing by distillation concentrates on the production of paraffin and electrode coke and delivers the distillates to the hydrogenation plants. The increasing demand for electrode coke, for whose production lignite tar is an excellent raw material, would lead to a further shifting of tar processing to coking. Efficient processes for processing of liquefied products from the traditionally coal refining make possible also the utilization of liquefied products resulting from new coal refining processes.