Integration of advanced preparation with coal liquefaction. Fourth quarterly technical progress report, July 1, 1984-September 30, 1984

Vacuum distillations were also done on the ITSL product and recycle solvent fractions from liquefaction of both Illinois No. 6 and Wyodak coals to prepare 50/sup 0/C boiling point cuts for use in the oil agglomeration studies. In addition, samples of Wyodak coal were wet ground to finer top particle sizes for use in the oil agglomeration studies. The incorporation of Na/sub 2/MoO/sub 4/, FeS/sub 2/, Fe(OH)/sub 3/ and H/sub 2/S, possible catalysts for liquefaction of Wyodak coal, by hot-water-treatment was compared at 200/sup 0/C, 30 minutes and 21/sup 0/C, 30 minutes. FeS/sub 2/ at 21/sup 0/C was the only catalyst which gave a significant increase in conversion to THF solubles under the standard liquefaction conditions. Wet ground Wyodak coal does not agglomerate when single solvent fractions from the ITSL process are used as agglomerating agents. Removal of oxygen from the coal surface by raising the temperature of the hot-water-treatment step to about 300/sup 0/C, resulting in the production of some CO/sub 2/, results in easy agglomeration. There does not appear to be an increase in conversion of Illinois No. 6 coal to THF solubles if oil agglomeration is followed by thermal drying under an inert atmosphere and mixing withmore » recycle solvent versus oil agglomeration followed by solvent drying. The use of ash analyses of the coal charged to the autoclave and the THF insoluble residue after liquefaction to calculate MAF conversion to THF solubles has been found to improve the precision of this measurement compared to the use of the THF insoluble residue weight and the moisture and ash content of the starting materials to perform the same calculation.« less