Catalytic hydrocracking of an asphaltenic coal residue

Catalytic hydrocracking of a residue from deasphalting a syncrude obtained by direct coal liquefaction of a subbituminous Spanish coal was carried out at different temperatures and reaction times. Kinetic study of the cracking reaction has been performed. The viscosity, coke content, boiling point distribution, elemental analysis, and aromaticity of the reaction products have been determined. The experimental data fit with the first-order kinetic model proposed. The main effects observed with the thermal hydrotreatment have been a large decrease of the viscosity of products that varies from 4608 cSt in the feedstock to 79 cSt. The conversion of the heavy fraction (bp > 350 degrees C and soluble in toluene) increased with the temperature and residence time, and the formation of coke was inhibited even at the softest reaction conditions used.