DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF IRON-BASED CATALYSTS FOR THE HYDROLIQUEFACTION OF COAL

Highly divided nonporous iron-based catalysts for the hydroliquefaction of coal have been prepared by a flame method. In order to preserve their original properties, an optimization of process conditions has been conducted, using a specially designed batch reactor whose thermal performances allow a simulation of continuous flow unit conditions. The evaluation of the catalysts in a multistage hydroliquefaction protocol has been carried out, comparing parameters related with coal conversion, hydrogen incorporation, kinetic data, solvent recycle capacity, analytical data of the resulting coal liquids and characterization of the spent catalysts. The synthetic iron-based catalysts of this study compare favourably with classical Ni-MO/Al2O3, and they are clearly superior to red mud; furthermore, their properties can be improved by incorporation of small amounts of molybdenum. This result is explained in terms of external surface accessibility.