Effect of phenolic compounds on liquefaction of coal in the presence of hydrogen-donor solvent

Phenolic compounds have a remarkable positive effect on coal liquefaction in the presence of tetralin, depending strongly on the character of the coal and on the concentrations of phenols. The solvent-refined coal obtained in the presence of phenol was low in hydrogen content and high in the fraction of aromatic hydrogen; these results corresponded well to the fact that coal conversion increases without increase of hydrogen consumption in the presence of phenols. The effect of phenols on coal liquefaction may be caused mainly by accelerated scission of ether linkages, since the decomposition of 2,2′-dinaphthyl ether was considerably enhanced by the addition of phenols.