PYROLYSIS OF WESTERN KENTUCKY COED LIGHT OIL IN A TRANSFER LINE REACTOR

Pyrolysis of a hydrotreated coal liquid, derived from Western Kentucky coal by the Char Oil Energy Development (COED) process, is described in detail. All experiments were conducted at 1 atm using an alonized transfer line reactor. Pyrolysis temperatures ranged from 500 to 780 °C and residence times were between 0.01 and 0.12 s. Results indicate the preferential pyrolysis of the saturates fraction of the coal liquid. Of particular significance is the formation of 0.2 to 0.25 g of ethylene, 0.08 to 0.11 g of propylene, and 0.05 to 0.1 g of methane/g of feed at 780 °C. The liquid pyrolysates collected at higher temperatures were darker and also had a lower H/C ratio than the feed. Spectroscopic analysis of liquid pyrolysates revealed small amounts of high molecular weight aromatics which were not present in the feed. This is indicative of polymerization of the feed. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.