FATE OF HYDROGEN-DONOR MOLECULES IN 2-STAGE LIQUEFACTION USING MODEL SOLVENTS

Model solvent mixtures have been prepared by hydrogenating phenanthrene and pyrene in an autoclave. These model solvents were used in coal liquefaction dissolution experiments using Point of Ayr coal under various conditions. Some of the coal liquids were hydrocracked with a CoMo commercial catalyst. The extent of dissolution was compared with the consumption of total hydrogen donor content and the consumption of individual donors; these donor contents were estimated from gas liquid chromatograms of the initial solvents and of the hexane-soluble fraction of the coal liquid. The extent of regeneration of the hydrogen donors after hydrocracking was also determined. From the various results, conclusions have been made concerning the importance of both total and individual hydrogen-donor contents for coal liquefaction processes.