Use of tyre pyrolysis oil for solvent augmentation in two-stage coal liquefaction

A sample of tyre pyrolysis oil (TPO), supplied by Bevan Recycling from their pilot plant, was analysed according to boiling point distribution. G.c.-m.s. analysis of < 275 degrees C (TPO-) and > 275 degrees C (TPO+) fractions revealed the presence of a large number of mainly aromatic compounds with a high degree of alkyl substitution and negligible hydrogen donor content. Dissolution experiments using Point of Ayr coal were carried out with hydrogenated anthracene oil containing various amounts of TPO and TPO+ at various temperatures. The results depended little on whether TPO or TPO+ was used, but the extent of dissolution decreased with increasing content of TPO or TPO+. However, the reduction was less than might have been expected according to the reduction in hydrogen donor content and there was evidence that TPO and TPO+ were providing a good hydrogen shuttling capacity. A sample of TPO was prehydrogenated to produce various samples of HTPO. The extent of dissolution with HTPO based on overall hydrogen donor content was higher than that produced by hydrogenated anthracene oil (HAO), probably because of the high degree of alkyl substitution in HTPO compared with HAO. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.