Liquefaction of Japanese bituminous Akabira coal catalyzed by molten salts under D 2 atmosphere

Abstract

Akabira coal (Japanese bituminous coal) was liquefied in the presence of molten salts like SnCl 2/KCl under a hydrogen or deuterium atmosphere (at 400°C for 1 h). Resulting products were separated into gaseous products, hexane soluble (HS), hexane insoluble but benzene soluble (HI/BS), benzene insoluble but pyridine soluble (BI/PS) and residue. Two extracts, HS and HI/BS, were separated by column chromatography. Three fractions of the HS extract account for up to 90% of the HS and four fractions of the HI/BS extract up to 80% of HI/BS. The distribution of deuterium atoms in three fractions of HS were examined by measuring their FD/MS and 2H NMR properties, and comparing these results with corresponding data of three fractions of HS obtained in a H 2 atmosphere. These results strongly suggest the preferential incorporation of deuterium atom at α-carbon adjacent to aromatic compounds. Kinetic features of the liquefaction are discussed according to the detailed analysis of three fractions of HS.