Catalytic hydrogenation of coal to value added chemicals

The present as well as future shortages of petroleum derived hydrocarbons for use as starting materials for the synthesis of various organic chemicals and products have stimulated search in the use of Coal/Lignite as raw materials for chemicals production. Coal can be exploited to produce carbocyclic derivatives for a wide spectrum of commercial applications in the field of polymers, dyes and drugs. In the present study catalytic coal hydrogenation under milder conditions (reaction temperature 180–200°C, reaction pressure 18–20 kg/cm3 the coal molecule may break into smaller fragments, i.e., smaller aromatic units with different functional groups. These aromatic chemicals are important for making different value added products.