Wandoan coal was liquefied with a fraction of FCC residual oil (FHO) as a solvent in the presence of synthetic pyrite as catalyst, at 400-500°C of reac-tion temperature under 20°C120kg/cm2G of initial hydrogen pressure for 1-4h of reaction time in a 50l autoclave.
After reaction of FHO itself with synthetic pyrite at 400°C and 500°C, 100kg/cm2G initial hydrogen pressure for 1h, the product was completely soluble in nhexane.
At any reaction temperature from 400 to 500°C, the total yield of the reaction products was obtained more than 85% based on the sample (coal+FHO). The maximum yield attained to 98% at 450°C. The oil yield showed maximum at 475°C. Preasphaltene and asphaltene decomposed to oil and gas, resulting in the increase of oil and gas yield. Hydrogen consumption tended to increase from 1.5% at 400°C to 4.1% at 500°C, with the reaction temperature.
With varying the reaction time at 475°C, 100kg/cm2G of initial hydrogen pressure, there were not so much difference in the total product yield, but preasphaltene tended to disappear and asphaltene decreased, while oil yield was almost constant and gas increased.
With the increase in hydrogen pressure at 475°C for 1h, under the higher hydrogen pressure than 60kg/cm2G the total product yield showed not so much difference. The increase in oil corresponded to decreasing preasphaltene and asphaltene. The increase in coal conversion supposed to be due to increase in asphaltene. With increasing hydrogen partial pressure (100kg/cm2G of initial pressure balanced with nitrogen), oil produced became lighter. In the case of hydrogen pressure only, oil contained a little bit heavier fractions with increasing hydrogen pressure. The increase in total product yield was supposed to come from preasphaltene and asphaltene produced from coal. Increasing oil was considered to be due to decomposition of preasphaltene and asphaltene.
The lighter oil was obtained at the higher reaction temperature, under the higher hydrogen partial pressure and for the longer the reaction time.