Hydroliquefaction of Victorian brown coal in a continuous reactor : 2. Comparison of tetralin and a coal-derived oil as hydrogen donor solvents

Slurries of Victorian brown coal in either tetralin (1:3) or a hydrogenated creosote oil (HKC 300) (1:3) were reacted with hydrogen in a continuous reactor system both with and without the addition of iron/tin based catalysts. The product yields and distributions from reactions using HKC 300 oil as a solvent are different from those obtained using tetralin. Under similar operating conditions, conversions are slightly lower and the asphaltene yields are higher for reactions in HKC 300 relative to those in tetralin. These differences are presumably due to the poorer hydrogen donor ability of the HKC 300. The yields of asphaltols, asphaltenes and oils for reactions in both solvent systems under a wide range of conditions are discussed as a function of overall conversion.