TRITIUM AS A TRACER IN COAL-LIQUEFACTION .1. HYDROGEN MOBILITY OF TETRALIN UNDER COAL-LIQUEFACTION CONDITIONS

The reaction of tetralin with tritiated molecular hydrogen was carried out at 350-440-degrees-C, 20-60 kg/cm2 for 0-8 h to estimate the hydrogen mobility of tetralin itself. Under these conditions, tetralin was converted to 1-methylindan, napthalene, and n-butylbenzene, and 1-methylindan was a main product. With a rise in temperature and a passage of time, the amount of tritium transferred from the gas phase into tetralin increased and the hydrogen-exchange ratio of tetralin at 440-degrees-C, 120 min and 400-degrees-C, 480 min reached 14.3% and 13.5%, respectively. The hydrogen-exchange ratio and the amount of methylindan increased with a hydrogen/tetralin molar ratio. The addition of coal enhanced the hydrogen exchange between gas phase and tetralin. In the absence and presence of coal, tritium was observed in the isolated naphthalene. It is suggested that hydrogen in tetralin changing to naphthalene may be able to exchange with molecular hydrogen.