Reaction mechanism of coal hydrogenation: 2. Three rings solvent system

Taiheiyo coal was hydrogenated in phenanthrene, 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydrophenanthrene and perhydrophenanthrene under 10 MPa (initial pressure) of hydrogen or nitrogen with or without stabilized nickel as catalyst at 400 °C for 15 min. Preasphaltene, asphaltene and oil conversions and the conversion of solvents were measured, and the amounts of hydrogen absorbed by coal from molecular hydrogen and from donor solvent were calculated. The main route of reaction appears to be the direct hydrogenation of coal by molecular hydrogen and the contribution of hydrogenation via the solvent was greater than in the case of the two rings solvent system.