Chemical studies on SYNTHOIL process. Third quarterly report, March 1--May 31, 1976

The program consists of three tasks; ''Catalyst Improvement'' in which the mechanisms of catalyst deactivation and methods of reactivation will be explored; ''Ash Effects'' in which the effect of the mineral content of coals on liquefaction will be assessed in autoclave experiments; and ''Kinetic Studies'' in which a bench scale reactor will be set up to study the effects of process parameters on the kinetics of hydrodesulfurization and liquefaction. Analysis of used catalyst from a series of SYNTHOIL reactor runs has continued. Concentration profiles of Ti and Fe in used catalysts were found to match the form of diffusion profiles. The extracted diffusion coefficients provide important clues to the transport mechanism. Pore size distribution studies of used catalysts have revealed a general reduction of pore volume at all effective pore diameters and suggests the occurrence of coking. Micropulse reactor results indicate that the cracking function of the catalyst in use degrades more than the hydrodesulfurization and dehydrogenation functions. The batch autoclave apparatus has undergone checkout and has been modified to reduce product losses. Several coal hydrogenation runs have been made. Quantitative x-ray diffraction analyses of the mineral content of eight coals are reported. The construction of the bench scale flowmore » reactor is proceeding and further evaluations of the kinetics studies have been made.« less